Dock workers from across Europe will meet in Genoa on the 26th of September to agree to block arms shipments that could be used in the Gaza war, in a move that could lead to a broader trade boycott of Israel, Politico reports.
Union members from ports in Spain, France, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco and Germany will be hosted by the Italian union USB. The aim of the meeting is to create a common strategy. USB spokesman Francesco Staccioli said he hopes to conclude the meeting with a plan for concrete, proactive immediate and long-term action.
First, that means addressing the issue of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian aid convoy that Israel attacked with drones while the ships were in international waters near Crete. The talks will focus on a military export embargo, but could go further, even to the point of threatening all European trade with Israel.
The initiative began as an effort to coordinate action in European ports, trying to make them weapons-free zones. The issue became even more pressing when ships carrying weapons and bound for Israel docked in the ports of Piraeus in Greece, Marseille in France and Genoa over the summer. The situation was exacerbated by an Israeli attack on a humanitarian aid convoy. It consists of 20 ships carrying more than 300 crew members and set off in early September. The attacks prompted Italy to send a warship to protect its citizens. However, the Italian Defense Minister has warned the flotilla not to try to break the blockade of Gaza, as
the Italian ships will remain in international waters and will not serve as escorts.
Staccioli said the flotilla’s presence had changed the rules of the game: “It amplified the debate and put Gaza front and center, demanding strong, immediate intervention.” He added that dock workers had warned that if contact with the flotilla was lost, all shipments to Israel would be immediately blocked.
The union said the talks would begin with internal talks between port delegations to agree on a common approach. On the 27th of September, dock workers’ delegations will meet with other workers involved in the production and transport chains of military materials. The unions involved are very important in the European transport sector. The meeting in Genoa follows a series of union actions aimed at stopping arms shipments. In July, thousands of people gathered at the port of Piraeus to stop the shipment of military-grade steel to Israel. Staccioli pointed out that ports are currently strategic battlefields and coordinated action is necessary.
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