Paul Ridley

Dock and port workers from 17 countries will disrupt and block exports to Israel on Friday, with workers joining from countries including Italy, Mexico, Turkey, the US, Morocco and India. Representatives from more than 100 ports will participate in the international day of action on 30 October, calling for an end to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians and “US-Israeli wars of aggression”. The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) announced on X that workers will take action by “peacefully disrupting and blocking the transfer of military, energy and other dual-use supplies to Israel, including by refusing to handle such supplies”. Workers will also pressure governments to impose a full military embargo on Israel and end “trade, economic and academic relations serving its illegal occupation and apartheid”. Explaining the day of action, the BNC said that Israel’s “criminal wars” are “exacerbating the cost of living and economic crises worldwide”. “Military budgets are swelling in the colonial West, while families and workers struggle with the cost of health, housing, transportation, and education. Our struggles are interlinked,” it stated. A further 17 Palestinian trade unions and federations have endorsed the action, stating: “Our struggle for justice in Palestine is inseparable from the global struggle against systemic racism, militarisation, exploitation, climate devastation and all forms of oppression.” The day of action comes a year after dockworkers in Italy blocked the ports of Genoa and Livorno, with unions closing schools and stopping transportation as part of an Italy-wide general strike in response to Israel preventing the Global Sumud Flotilla from reaching Gaza in 2025. The flotilla was the largest ever naval mission to attempt to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza, with around 20 vessels carrying delegates from at least 44 countries. The flotilla was subject to drone attacks before being illegally intercepted by Israel in international waters. Those on board were detained and have accused Israeli forces of subjecting them to human rights abuses including assault, degrading treatment, and the withholding of medical care.