Greek Dockers Set Up Blockade to Halt Shipment of Ammunition to Israel
Published Oct 18, 2024 11:45 PM by The Maritime Executive
On Thursday, dockers at the port of Piraeus blocked the shipment of one container of ammunition bound for Israel, showing their objections to the ongoing Israeli operation in Gaza.
The Dockworkers Union of Piraeus put out a call Thursday for members to gather at the port and protest the arrival of a truck allegedly carrying about 20 tonnes of ammunition for Israeli users. The union said that it objects to Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, and allowing the cargo to pass could "turn the workers and residents of Piraeus into a target for retaliation" from Israel's enemies.
"We call on the workers in the port and throughout Piraeus, the unions, the EKP, the youth to contribute with their presence so that we can stop the transfer of weapons," the union said. "It is the moment to shout that we will not allow the port of Piraeus to become a base of war."
The workers set up a blockade outside of the container terminal on Thursday night and stalled the truck's progress. As of Friday, the truck and container remained under port authority protection, and an arrest warrant has been issued for one leader from the Dockworkers' Union, according to Reuters.
China Cosco's local terminal operations arm, Piraeus Container Terminal, said in a statement that it had to handle the container because of the terms of its concession contract for port operations. The company noted that the blockade was located on a public street outside the terminal.
It was the latest in a long series of protests targeting Israel-bound weaponry and ammunition. The most prominent case may be the persistent and ongoing campaign against the tweendecker Kathrin, an 8,000 dwt freighter believed to be carrying eight containers of RDX explosives bound for Israel. En route from Vietnam, Kathrin was refused berthing rights in Namibia, Montenegro and Malta after antiwar activists petitioned local port authorities. As of Friday, Kathrin was still anchored off Malta.
Dockworkers in Greece have blocked the shipment of an ammunition-filled container destined for Israel, refusing to load the cargo onto a vessel at the Port of Piraeus.
The container, reportedly transported to Greece via North Macedonia, was meant to be shipped to Israel’s Haifa Port.
However, in response to calls from local labor unions, dockworkers at the Piraeus port gathered and took a firm stance, preventing the shipment from proceeding.
According to Greek State Television ERT, the workers had written “Murderers, get out of the port” on the container and voiced their solidarity with the Palestinian people, chanting slogans such as “Freedom for Palestine.”
Markos Bekris, the president of the Piraeus Port Trade Union, released a statement condemning the shipment of ammunition intended for the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“We have decided not to allow the shipment of war ammunition from the Port of Piraeus that will continue the genocide of the Palestinian people,” Bekris said, emphasizing that the workers would not stain their hands “with the blood of the Palestinian people.”
Bekris also urged Greece to halt any involvement in the conflict, calling for an immediate cessation of the country’s participation. “We demand that our country immediately stop engaging in the war,” he added.
Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
More than 42,400 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 99,100 injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
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