Closure of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions headquarters in Jerusalem and a ban on Labor Elections
Occupation forces, accompanied by intelligence, raided the headquarters of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions on Salah al-Din Street in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning and closed it.
The Jerusalem Governorate stated that the occupation forces summoned the Secretary of the Federation in Jerusalem, Fawzi Sha’ban, to the headquarters during their presence and raid. Upon his arrival, they arrested him for his union work and decided to completely close the headquarters.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem explained that the closure order, posted on the door of the General Federation headquarters and signed by Minister of Security Haim Katz, was issued on March 15, 2025. It stated: "There is an intention to hold a conference of representatives of postal and telecommunications workers to hold elections for members of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Palestinian Postal and Telecommunications Workers, under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority, without written permission. The ban is based on the Law Implementing the Central Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip/Limiting Activities/1994."
The Governorate said in a statement that this decision comes in the context of implementing the occupation's decisions to ban institutions affiliated with the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The Jerusalem Governorate affirmed that these measures constitute a clear obstruction of union activity and a clear violation of the Trade Union Freedoms Law. They also constitute a violation of international conventions that guarantee the protection and preservation of workers' rights and the freedom of union organization.
The Governorate noted that the occupation had prevented, in mid-March, the holding of elections for workers in the postal and telecommunications sector in the Jerusalem Governorate, as part of a systematic policy aimed at emptying the city of any effective union and national representation.
