Hawzah News Agency- Organizers of Monday’s day of action condemned the complicity of the Italian government and the European Union in Israeli crimes against Palestinians in the besieged Strip.
They also supported the Somod Global Flotilla, which is trying to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
The strike was called by the Independent Union of Dock Workers (CALP) and the Basic Union (USB) – a national popular labor union confederation known for its military platform – as well as the Global Movement to Gaza Italy, a solidarity network that supports the flotilla’s mission.
Guido Lutrario, national secretary of the USB, said the strike would put pressure on the Italian government to take more effective action against Israel.
"We will stop the country - block ports and stations, halt goods and movement to paralyse the nation and force the government to choose whose side it’s on'', Lutrario said.
Across Italy, grassroots mobilisations are taking place in opposition to the right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni and in support of the Palestinian people.
At the port of Ravenna in northern Italy on 18 September, two containers carrying explosives bound for Israel were blocked by the city’s mayor Alessandro Barattoni and local authorities after the ship's contents were reported by dockworkers.
“If we lose contact with our boats, with our comrades, even for just 20 minutes, we will shut down all of Europe'', dockworker Riccardo Rudino said.
At the port of Ravenna in northern Italy on 18 September, two containers carrying explosives bound for Israel were blocked by the city’s mayor Alessandro Barattoni and local authorities after the ship's contents were reported by dockworkers.
Earlier on 7 August, dockworkers in Genoa prevented the Saudi-owned vessel Bahri Yanbu from loading an Oto Melara cannon, produced by the Italian arms manufacturer Leonardo. The weaponry was en-route to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi.
"Together with our union USB, together with all dockworkers, together with the entire city of Genoa''.
Italy is the third largest supplier of arms to Israel after the US and Germany and the sixth largest arms exporter globally.
Genoa is a key Mediterranean shipping hub for Italy and the European Union, handling the equivalent of 2.74m containers in 2023.
According to the CALP, between 13,000 and 14,000 containers leave their region each year bound for Israel.
For that reason, Genoa’s port has become a flashpoint for protests against the use of Italian ports for arms shipments and dockworkers there have a strong history of taking direct action against wars they consider unethical.
Source: MIDDLE EAST EYE
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