Joint BASW & SWU statement on situation in Israel and Palestine/Gaza

Updated 27 October 2023
BASW & SWU Statement

BASW and the Social Workers Union (SWU) stand with the innocent victims, their families and all civilians at risk of harm and death in Israel and Palestine in the current terrible and escalating conflict. 

As the situation has evolved, we have learnt more about what has happened and about current and future harms and risks to civilians, and to the prospect of peace in the long term. In light of that, we have updated and added to our statement first issued on 12th October. 

We are also responding to concerns from members with different perspectives on and connections with these awful events. We want to support members and others affected by this violence, whether through loss or harm of loved ones or through the impact of this outbreak of violence and deaths in Israel and Palestine on community relationships and safety in the UK. This includes rising reports of hate speech and other violent acts. 

We condemn in the strongest possible terms and stand against all instances of Antisemitism and Islamophobia within the UK and globally.

Over 1400 civilians, almost all Jewish, were killed and over 200 kidnapped in southern Israel by armed terrorists from Hamas on 7th October. This was a crime against humanity that should never be forgotten. We unequivocally condemn the targeting of civilians and the atrocities committed by Hamas. Only a few Israeli hostages have been released through diplomatic means and their families and friends are left in the agony of not knowing what has happened to them.

The military defence response to this atrocity against Hamas by the Israeli defence force has so far killed over 6000 Palestinians civilians through bombing in the densely populated Gaza Strip which has closed borders. Many victims are children, women and people in hospitals and with other care needs. Water, fuel and power have been cut and little humanitarian aid has been able to get in at the time of writing. A full-scale ground offensive is planned. We condemn indiscriminate loss of life in Gaza whose population should be equally protected under international law. 

In the long-term, only a negotiated political settlement within the parameters of international law will end the cycle of violence in the region and prevent its escalation and further threat to the populations of both Israel and Palestine. 

  • We call for urgent, constructive steps to be taken by the international community to work towards a just and sustainable peace for all in the region. We call on our own UK government to play its part in this and in cessation of hostilities.  We will be sending this statement to the UK government, devolved governments/administrations and to main opposition parties across the UK.
  • In the short term, we call for a humanitarian ceasefire, greater diplomatic efforts to free hostages, restoration of basic services and sufficient international humanitarian aid to Gazan citizens and respect for international law on all sides in the protection of inalienable and indivisible human rights of Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

People of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances were targeted in the attack by Hamas and have been casualties of the bombing of Gaza. The killing has been indiscriminate. But as social workers we are charged with speaking out for those least able to speak out and defend themselves. 

  • As social workers, we call for a clear international, humanitarian focus on the rights and safety of children, elderly and disabled people, those needing medical attention, and others most at risk in this conflict. We remember those viciously killed on October 7th and those still at risk from escalating violence in Israel, and we continue to shine a light on the moral and ethical imperative of protecting the most vulnerable people in Gaza now.

We also stand in solidarity with social workers in Israel and Palestine who are supporting victims and communities in a situation of war and where our internationally defined ethics and values must be upheld in the most difficult circumstances. We support the statement of the International Federation of Social Workers that recognises the importance of international professional solidarity with and support for social workers in Palestine and Israel, their families and communities, affected and at risk through this escalation of hostilities and attacks,

In the long term, within the international community, social workers and our representative organisations can play an important role in ‘bottom up’ initiatives to build understanding and consensus across different communities in the longer term.  In the immediate term:

  • We call on the International Federation of Social Workers to support a humanitarian ceasefire, provision of aid, and diplomatic actions to protect Israeli and Palestinian civilians from further escalation of violence and catastrophe, and to support social workers in the region in their immediate and long-term roles to promote peace and equality.

BASW and SWU welcomes feedback on this statement from members and will continue dialogue with members with different perspectives on this painful situation and on the role of social work and social workers. 

BASW’s International Committee and SWU’s Executive Committee are considering these matters in depth and developing a detailed background report to inform BASW and SWU’s ongoing engagement in issues affecting the populations and social work profession in Israel and Palestine.

BASW is an active member of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and we support their statement in response to the situation, which can be viewed here.  SWU is an active member of the General Federation of Trades Unions, which has also made a statement on the situation from its own perspective, available to read here. Together we will continue to work within respective bodies to advocate for social work’s voice in this situation. Our thoughts are with all social work colleagues in the region.