Dockworkers in the Italian port of Genoa have pledged to organize a Europe-wide blockade if the 50-ship humanitarian Sumud Flotilla, currently en route to Gaza, is threatened or attacked by Israeli forces. This comes after the Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship, the Handala, was violently blocked and seized on July 26.
The bold declaration came from the Autonomous Collective of Dockworkers (CALP) during a send-off for the aid mission. A CALP spokesperson stated that the most critical point of the journey will occur around mid-September, when the flotilla nears the coast of Gaza.
“If we lose contact with our boats, with our comrades, even for just 20 minutes, we will block all of Europe,” the dockworkers declared. “From the Port of Genoa nothing will leave anymore.”
The workers also issued a direct warning to the Israeli state regarding the 13,000-14,000 containers that ship yearly from Genoa to its ports. “We will not let a single nail leave anymore,” they stated.
The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), which represents 110 million workers in 134 countries, issued a statement of full solidarity. “The WFTU firmly stands in solidarity with all the workers who courageously support the heroic Palestinian people,” the federation said.
The WFTU saluted the Italian dockworkers and their union, Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), for their role in collecting over 280 tons of aid for Gaza. It also praised the WFTU affiliates in Italy, Greece, France, and other countries who have refused to load weapons destined for the Israeli military.
“These acts of workers’ resistance are a powerful expression of class solidarity and internationalism,” the WFTU stated.
The Sumud Flotilla set sail from Spain on Aug. 31. The flotilla, consisting of 50 ships, carries activists, health workers, and trade unionists attempting to break the Israeli siege on Gaza. Participants anticipate a potential assault by Israeli forces. Before the flotilla departed, fascist Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to classify its crew as “terrorists.”
The Genoa dockworkers’ campaign has drawn support from education workers, students, and other public service unions across Italy. These groups have pledged to join solidarity actions if the flotilla is intercepted.
The dockworkers’ action shows how solidarity with Palestine is expanding, taking root in workplaces that directly impact the flow of goods and weapons to the Israeli state. Their vow is a clear message that European workers are prepared to use their economic power to defend the mission and challenge their governments’ support for Netanyahu’s war.
The Gaza genocide, a continuation of the 76-year-long war on the Palestinian people, has drawn worldwide condemnation, including from China, Vietnam, the DPRK, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Slovenia.
The Israeli settler forces, armed to the teeth with U.S.-made bombs and airplanes, reduced Gaza to a smoking ruin and turned its remaining two million people into refugees. The Gaza Health Ministry estimates nearly 64,000 have been killed, with two-thirds of them women and children. All of Gaza is now threatened by famine.
The WFTU also reaffirmed support for “the right of return for refugees,” which is universally supported by Palestinians worldwide.
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