Italian dockworkers threaten blockade against Israel • FRANCE 24 English

This is the port of Ravena in northern Italy. A few days ago, dock workers took action to block the transport of weapons to Israel. Two containers that were supposed to transit through the port were refused entry because of their contents. We realized that these containers had a risk classification of 1.4s, which is an international classification reference number for explosives. At that point, we became suspicious, particularly as the container’s destination was Hifa. Once informed, the city’s council, a shareholder of the docks, wrote to the port operator in order to block the containers before they were loaded onto a ship owned by an Israeli company. I do not want our port to become complicit in the ongoing massacre in Gaza. There have been too many assassinations, too many civilians massacred. We’re well aware that this blockade will not put an end to the conflict, but every small action could send a signal and mobilize Western public. This is not the first case. Last June, weapons coming from Austria left the port of Ravena for Israel. Today the dock workers are being visited by the UN special reporter for the occupied territories who has come to show her support. What they’re doing is what every individual with a grain of humanity or a conscience should be doing. Institutions are not doing anything to prevent this genocide. The authorities, national, regional, and local, continue to facilitate the transport of arms to Israel. In front of Ravena’s town hall, demonstrators denounce the government’s ambiguous position. Italian law strictly forbids arm sales to countries that violate international law. Italy has suspended the sale of weapons to Israel, but continues to allow the transit of arms made in other European countries.

Dockworkers in Italy are threatening to impose a trade blockade on Israel, as anger mounts over weapons being transported via Italian ports. It comes as the government comes under increasing pressure to take a tougher line with Israel, and recognise Palestinian statehood. Authorities say they don’t have the jurisdiction to block the transfer of non-Italian arms, as our correspondent, Natalia Mendoza, reports.
#Israel #Gaza #war

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49 comments

  4. Right
    I guess we can go through different ports. Just channel our aide through a different port. Soon as Palestinians stop killing Israelis and get rid of Hamas MAYBE you’ll convince me to feel sorry for them. They did this to thier children and themselves.

  26. Mrs. Albaneese needs to be nominated for The Nobel Peace Prize. She's a woman of honour, integrity and most of all still has her humanity in tacked. Unlike the majority of spineless and complicit Western politicians. Big Respect to the Dockworkers and administration for standing on the right side of history. History will judge all.

  32. These dockworkers do not need truth, and do not want to wait for parliament or democratic process, no.

  38. In the light of the Israeli navy's blocking of the humanitarian flotilla, more actions of this kind are necessary to show disgust with the Israeli government!

  39. It would be interesting to see after an investigation if these dock workers unions and companies were not Hamas shell companies that have spread throughout Europe
    Most notably but not limited the investigation that outed Spain dock workers as Hamas businesses

Comments are closed.