Major trade union at Indian seaports refuses to handle cargo ships containing weapons for Israel

ANKARA

A major trade union with over 3,500 members in 11 Indian ports has refused to handle all cargo ships transporting weapons to Israel.

The Water Transport Workers Federation of India has decided not to handle military shipments for Israel at any port in the country, the union’s official told Anadolu on Sunday by phone.

"We have decided not to upload or unload cargoes containing weapons if any ships arrive. However, so far, no such ship has arrived. If it comes, we will boycott," said Narendra Rao, the union's general secretary.

Rao said the federation is affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions, and that a few months ago, unions from the port and dock sectors around the world decided not to handle ships carrying weapons for Israel at their respective ports.

“Port workers, part of labor unions, would always stand against the war and killing innocent people like women and children,” he added.

Earlier, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the union called for an immediate cease-fire in the besieged Gaza Strip.

"As we are responsible trade unions, we declare our solidarity with those who campaign for peace," the statement read.

The statement also called on its members to “no longer handle any ships which carry military material to Palestine and Israel.”

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The ensuing Israeli attacks have killed nearly 29,000 and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities, while less than 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.