Workers at a port in southern France are blocking a shipment of 14 tonnes of military equipment bound for Israel, their union announced on Thursday.

According to the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the workers refused to handle the cargo in protest against what they described as “the ongoing genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli government.”

The shipment, reportedly destined for the Israeli port of Haifa, includes machine gun parts produced by a company in Marseille.

The CGT alleges that these components are being used by the Israeli military against Palestinians in Gaza.

The union said it identified and isolated the container at the port of Fos-sur-Mer, near Marseille.

France’s Defence Ministry stated that Israel is contractually required to re-export the military equipment and is not permitted to use the components itself, according to a report by France Info.

The dockworkers’ action has received backing from several left-wing French politicians.

Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of the France Unbowed party, lauded the move on X (formerly Twitter), saying “Glory to the dockworkers in the port of Marseille-Fos who are refusing to load spare parts for machine guns that were supposed to be delivered to the Israeli army.”

Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party, also expressed support, stating: “Humanism is not for sale.”

The Gaza conflict has so far claimed the lives of at least 54,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.

The war was sparked by the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, during which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. 

(dpa/NAN)