Indian Port Workers' Union Refuses to Handle Military Cargo for Israel

The decision to cease handling weaponized cargo and ships transporting military supplies to Israel, where the ammunition may be used against the Gazan people, was made by a port workers' union.

The Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI), which represents over 3,500 workers from 11 main ports in the nation, has received a letter from its general secretary, T. Narendra Rao, asking members to refrain from handling military cargo ships that are headed for Israel.


In his letter, he said that the union will never support war or the murder of defenseless civilians, including women and children. It claimed that thousands of Palestinians had experienced great loss and suffering as a result of Israel's recent onslaught on Gaza.

"The conflict has blasted women and children to bits. Exploding everywhere, bombs murdered youngsters that their parents could not identify. Our Union members have agreed as a group to decline handling any kind of weaponized goods at this point. According to the statement, "loading and unloading these weapons helps give organizations the ability to kill innocent people."

"We, the Indian port and dock laborers from many major ports engaged in the ground logistics of cargo handling, demand of our members that they cease operating any vessels that transport military hardware to Palestine/Israel. As such, we likewise demand an immediate end to hostilities.

"As conscientious labor unions, we thus affirm our support for those who advocate for world peace. We urge everyone who values peace and who works in the globe to support the demand for a free Palestine.

Rao said to The Telegraph that no organization or individual that values peace could be in favor of the war as it had brought such a humanitarian crisis.

He said that India has five port workers' federations. The first organization to call for a boycott of military ship loading and unloading for Israel is the WTWFI.

Rao said that no military supply ship has left India for Israel since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023. The purpose of the letter was to raise awareness among the staff members about the potential need for them to handle military goods on ships headed for Israel.

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