Train Employees Go on Strike in Tunisia over Unmet Govt Pledges

A general view of Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis, virtually deserted on the first day of a general lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ordered by Tunisia's president, in Tunis, Tunisia, March 22, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view of Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis, virtually deserted on the first day of a general lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ordered by Tunisia's president, in Tunis, Tunisia, March 22, 2020. (Reuters)
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Train Employees Go on Strike in Tunisia over Unmet Govt Pledges

A general view of Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis, virtually deserted on the first day of a general lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ordered by Tunisia's president, in Tunis, Tunisia, March 22, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view of Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis, virtually deserted on the first day of a general lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ordered by Tunisia's president, in Tunis, Tunisia, March 22, 2020. (Reuters)

Employees of state-owned National Society of Tunisian Railways went on strike on Thursday over unmet government pledges.

The one-day strike included the freight transport, commuter, long-distance and suburb lines.

The employees were demanding the implementation of a previous agreement signed with the government years ago and the settlement of professional matters including promotions and work conditions.

This strike coincided with the Tunisian General Labor Union protests that have been ongoing for weeks against the ruling authority’s policies and current social situation.

Head of the "private railways syndicate", Najib Al-Jelassi‎‏ said the strike “was not the aim but the means” to obtain the rights of employees.

The strike is the result of the authority’s failure to fulfill its previous commitments, he added.

Separately, the Independent High Authority for Elections is mulling plans to hold municipal elections later this year. They were first held on May 6, 2018.

Independent High Authority for Elections president Farouk Bouasker expected the elections to take place between June 15 and the beginning of July.

He stressed that the Authority was ready to stage the polls.



Hamas Says No Point in Further Gaza Truce Talks

FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
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Hamas Says No Point in Further Gaza Truce Talks

FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man inspects the house where Palestinian newlywed Hala Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 3, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo

A senior Hamas official said Tuesday the group was no longer interested in truce talks with Israel and urged the international community to halt Israel's "hunger war" against Gaza.

"There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip," Basem Naim told AFP.

He said the world must pressure the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the "crimes of hunger, thirst, and killings" in Gaza.

The comments by Naim, a Hamas political bureau member and former Gaza health minister, came a day after Israel's military said expanded operations in Gaza would include displacing "most" of its population.