Several European trade unions representing dockworkers convened in the Italian port city of Genoa on Saturday to announce a coordinated effort to halt the export of weapons from Europe to Israel.

Under the banner “Dockworkers do not work for war,” the unions called for immediate action to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to stand against the occupation of Palestine.

During the gathering, representatives of the dockworkers declared their firm opposition to the bloodshed, emphasizing that they refuse to participate in the logistics of war. A spokesperson for the organizing union said: “We are against war. We are against the occupation of Palestine. We ask everyone to protest and deliver a clear message that we are not complicit in this war. We are many and we are strong, and we stand for a free Palestine.”

The unions announced plans to expand their boycott of military shipments, aiming to cover all European ports, signaling a major escalation in civilian and labor-driven pressure against Israel’s arms supply chain.

The initiative has been hailed by Palestinian solidarity groups as a bold and principled stand by workers across Europe, demonstrating that opposition to the occupation extends beyond governments and international organizations to the people who form the backbone of trade and commerce.

Observers noted that the dockworkers’ campaign not only disrupts military logistics but also sends a moral message that Europe’s workforce refuses to be complicit in Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza, where thousands of civilians, including women and children, continue to suffer under relentless bombardment and blockades.

The Genoa meeting marks a significant moment in international solidarity for Palestine, as labor unions from multiple countries coordinate efforts to apply economic and logistical pressure, reinforcing the global call to end Israel’s war crimes and ensure protection and humanitarian access for Gaza’s population. (ILKHA)