Media: Italian dockworkers threaten Israel cargo ban if Gaza flotilla blocked

A new flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza set sail from the Italian port of Genoa on September 7, joining the Global Sumud Flotilla expedition that departed Barcelona earlier this week.

The initiative aims to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver urgently needed supplies as U.N. agencies warn of worsening famine conditions, Caliber.Az reports per Politico.

Speaking at a rally on the Genoa docks, one of Europe’s busiest ports, a dockworker representing the USB union issued a stark warning: if contact with the flotilla is lost “even for just 20 minutes,” port workers would immediately block all shipments to Israel.

“From this region, 13 to 14,000 containers leave every year for Israel. Not a single nail will leave anymore,” the dockworker declared in a speech that has since circulated widely in Italian media.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, now joined by the Genoa delegation, is the fourth and largest maritime challenge to Israel’s blockade this year, with 20 ships and more than 300 participants. Among those taking part are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham.

Ahead of the departure, Genoa residents organised a food drive that collected over 300 tons of humanitarian aid. On Saturday, more than 40,000 people—including the city’s mayor, Silvia Salis—took part in a torchlit march through the streets in support of the mission.

“Every day I am proud to be the mayor of this city, but tonight, if possible, I am even more so,” Salis said.

The flotilla is expected to reach waters off Gaza in mid-September, where organisers say they will attempt to deliver aid despite Israel’s naval blockade.

By Khagan Isayev