RAMALLAH, (PIC)
The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) said that 74 Palestinian workers were killed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during 2025, amid escalating occupational hazards and worsening working conditions.
In a statement marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on Tuesday, the Federation stressed the workers’ right to a safe and healthy work environment.
“The fatalities included 20 workers [killed] inside the Palestinian labor market in the West Bank, one worker killed at sea, 14 workers while attempting to reach or return from their workplaces, and 39 workers inside Israel (1948 territories). Additionally, 18 workers were killed by gunfire or during arrest, pursuit, or raids on their workplaces,” the Federation explained.
The Federation further noted that 47 Palestinian workers, described as “livelihood martyrs,” were killed between October 7, 2023, and the end of 2025, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by Palestinian workers across various sectors.
The Federation emphasized that occupational safety is not optional, but rather a “national, moral, and legal responsibility” that requires collective action.
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work comes amid historically difficult economic conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories resulting from Israel’s growing violations and crimes.
Unemployment rates have reached nearly 80 percent in the Gaza Strip and about 35 percent in the West Bank, with the number of jobless workers exceeding 500,000, according to official Palestinian statistics.
