A week-long pause in fighting ended early Friday after about 100 Hamas-held hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released in a tenuously kept deal.
Pressure has been growing on the Biden administration to push for a long-term cease-fire in the conflict, with Democratic lawmakers citing the increasing civilian casualties in Gaza. However, both the administration and the Israeli government have so far refused.
UAW regional director Brandon Mancilla joined the growing chorus of calls for a ceasefire on Friday in remarks in front of the White House, alongside protesters on a hunger strike.
“UAW International is calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine so that we can get to the work of building a lasting peace, building social justice, and building a community of global community of solidarity,” Mancilla said.
The American Postal Workers Union, UE union and a multitude of smaller labor organizations have already backed a cease-fire, an effort which has divided Democrats and put pressure on Biden officials.
The conflict, now nearly two months old, has resulted in the deaths of more than 13,300 Palestinians, including thousands of children, as well as about 1,200 Israelis.
“[A cease-fire] is as important as anything else that we’re doing in this country in order to ensure that workers and oppressed people and more people across the world are on the path to winning to justice,” Mancilla said.
“For so long we’ve been silent and we’ve been ignorant in the labor movement to this issue, and that time is over,” he added.
The Hill’s Nick Robertson has more here.
