French Dockworkers Rebel: We Refuse to Participate in Genocide
Dockworkers in southern France are blocking a shipment of 14 tons of military equipment to Israel, their union announced today.
The workers refuse to participate in the "ongoing genocide carried out by the Israeli government," stated the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union.
The cargo, destined for the Israeli port of Haifa, allegedly consists of machine gun parts produced by a company in the southern city of Marseille, which CGT claims the Israeli military uses against the Palestinian population. The union said the container is currently located in the port of Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille.
The French Ministry of Defense stated that Israel is contractually obligated to re-export the military equipment and is not permitted to use the components itself, according to France Info.
Left-wing politicians in France have supported the workers’ action.
"Glory to the dockworkers in the port of Marseille-Fos who refuse to load spare parts for ships intended for the Israeli army," posted Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of the left-wing party France Unbowed, on X.
The leader of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, also supported the move. "Humanism is not for sale," Faure wrote on X.
At least 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to health authorities controlled by Hamas in the territory. The war was triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and over 250 were taken hostage.
