European Port Workers Strike Against Arms Shipments to Israel

Port workers across Europe and other continents held a strike on Friday, with a primary demand being the cessation of arms shipments to Israel through their ports. Unions in France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Morocco issued a joint statement opposing arms shipments and calling for an end to what they termed the "militarization of ports," while also demanding an end to the war in Gaza. The unions stated that ports should not be used for transporting weapons, ammunition, military equipment, or troops, asserting, "Port workers are not working for war!".

According to the unions, over 100 ports in several countries joined the protest, which they claim could disrupt maritime traffic in Europe, the Mediterranean, and North America. While social and labor rights were also raised, the central focus was halting arms transfers. Images from the protests often featured Palestinian flags.

In Greece, port workers unionized and declared a strike at the Port of Piraeus, the country's largest. Yorgos Gkogos, chairman of the local port workers' union, stated, "We do not want to take part in any war, anywhere in the world. We do not want our ports to be hubs for the transit of military equipment intended to kill people." In Turkey, demonstrators gathered outside the Haydarpaşa Port in Istanbul with a banner reading, "No to war, no to armament!" Italy saw planned protests at key ports like Genoa, Trieste, and Gioia Tauro, while the French port workers' union called for a one-day strike at major ports including Le Havre, Marseille, Dunkirk, and Rouen, opposing the "militarization of port facilities."

Experts estimated the impact of the strike on maritime activity to be limited. Marcus Baker, global head of marine, cargo, and logistics at risk consultancy Marsh, told the Associated Press that the one-day strike was unlikely to significantly disrupt global trade, though it might affect perishable goods and time-sensitive shipments. He added that such actions further complicate supply chains already strained by Middle East tensions, climate events, river and canal restrictions, and tariff changes.

Since the start of the "Iron Swords War," several countries have imposed restrictions on the transfer of Israeli arms. Spain, for instance, has a policy preventing ships carrying weapons for Israel from docking in its ports, a measure exemplified when Madrid refused docking to the "Marianne Danica" from India carrying explosives in 2024. France has also reportedly prohibited U.S. military cargo planes bound for Israel from flying over its territory.