International Workers' Day, which is marked on 1 May, is a momentous occasion to shed light on the suffering of Palestinian workers inside and outside occupied Palestine. 

Their suffering is caused by the Israeli occupation and its growing violations against them, including the suffocating siege and denying them their rights, foremost among them are their rights to work, freedom of movement, and lead a decent life in a free homeland. 

On this day, Hamas pays tribute to all slain Palestinian workers, whose blood fueled several intifadas (uprisings) against the occupation. 

Hamas hails all Palestinian workers for remaining steadfast and resilient in the face of all forms of injustice inflicted upon them by the Israeli occupation. 

On this occasion, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas states the following: 

First: The suffering of Palestinian workers is part of the unabated hardship experienced by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli occupation for more than 75 years. 

Second: The fascist Israeli occupation government's policy of besieging the towns and villages of the occupied West Bank constitutes a stark violation of all humanitarian laws and rights. Hamas holds the Israeli occupation responsible for the consequences of such policy and calls for criminalising and putting an end to it. 

Third: The Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, which has been imposed for more than 16 years, is an appalling crime against more than two million Palestinian citizens. Closing Gaza's crossings and isolating the impoverished enclave from the outside world requires urgent action at all levels to end the unjust Israeli siege and provide job opportunities that ensure a decent life for all Palestinians in their homeland.  

Fourth: Hamas renews its call for the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) to assume its historical and humanitarian role towards Palestinian refugees and provide them with decent employment opportunities. It also urges the countries hosting Palestinian refugees to grant them their civil rights until they return to Palestine.

Fifth: Hamas calls on human rights groups and humanitarian organisations worldwide to expose the Israeli occupation's escalating crimes and violations against Palestinian workers and to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation to lift its unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and other West Bank cities and villages.