Date: May 1, 2026
On the Occasion of International Workers’ Day
Thousands of workers in the camps are losing their jobs due to the Israeli blockade amid unprecedented unemployment rates
Our workers are waging an existential battle for dignity atop the rubble, standing firm in the face of genocide
The Palestinian worker will remain a symbol of dignity, patience, and willpower, and a key partner in the struggle to defend rights
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Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, affirmed that the Palestinian worker has always represented a model of national resilience and unbreakable will, despite being directly targeted in his right to work and to a dignified life.
In his statement marking International Workers’ Day, Dr. Abu Holi stressed that Palestinian workers have never hesitated to perform their pioneering national and humanitarian role under the harshest conditions, whether in refugee camps or in steadfast cities and villages, holding firmly to their inherent right to remain on their land and to defend their national identity in the face of policies of displacement, marginalization, and systematic blockade.
He emphasized that May 1st this year goes beyond being a symbolic labor occasion, becoming instead a resounding cry in the face of the silent global conscience and a demand to halt the war of genocide and displacement targeting the Palestinian existence, which has claimed the lives of thousands of workers.
He pointed out that Palestinian workers are facing an open war targeting their livelihoods and their rights to work, movement, and safe living, through occupation policies based on closures, blockade, movement restrictions, and the destruction of economic and productive sectors, in addition to the ongoing targeting of infrastructure and sources of income.
He explained that hundreds of thousands of Palestinian workers, especially in the camps, have lost their sources of livelihood, and their workplaces have turned into rubble as a result of the ongoing aggression and unjust blockade. Nevertheless, they are setting an exceptional example of resilience, holding on to the will to rebuild and remain on their land despite attempts to crush the foundations of their daily lives.
He added that refugee camps are witnessing a dangerous and unprecedented rise in poverty and unemployment rates, with unemployment among refugees in the camps exceeding 80%, amid widespread economic collapse and the loss of income sources for tens of thousands of Palestinian families—an alarming situation that threatens a serious social and humanitarian explosion.
Abu Holi warned of the grave repercussions of the financial crisis facing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and its direct impact on relief, employment, education, and health programs. He stressed that any reduction in the Agency’s services would double the suffering of Palestinian refugees and increase poverty and unemployment rates in the camps, noting that the campaign against UNRWA primarily aims to liquidate the refugee issue and exacerbate the suffering of thousands of workers and employees who form the backbone of essential services for millions of Palestinians.
He stressed that protecting Palestinian workers and strengthening their resilience requires urgent international action to stop the aggression, open prospects for work and dignified living, and support the Palestinian economy and employment projects in a way that preserves the dignity of the Palestinian people and their right to live in freedom and security.
He called on the international community, donor countries, United Nations institutions, the International Labour Organization, and trade unions worldwide to assume their legal, humanitarian, and moral responsibilities toward the Palestinian people, and to act urgently to provide protection for Palestinian workers, support UNRWA, and launch emergency and sustainable employment programs targeting youth, graduates, and workers in Palestinian refugee camps. Such efforts would help reduce unemployment and poverty, strengthen the resilience of Palestinian refugees, and pressure the occupation to stop its crimes, open the crossings, and ensure freedom of movement and work for Palestinian workers without restrictions. He also stressed the need to unify all national and institutional efforts to provide social safety nets and emergency support for workers and their families, enabling them to remain steadfast on their land.
Abu Holi paid tribute to Palestinian workers as the resilient working class that has borne the responsibility of national and social steadfastness, presenting an honorable model of sacrifice and perseverance despite harsh conditions and the continuous targeting of their livelihoods and human rights. He affirmed that the Palestinian worker will remain a symbol of dignity, patience, and willpower, and a fundamental partner in the struggle for survival and the defense of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.
