Italian dockworkers, along with other labor groups, have been protesting against the Gaza offensive. The port of Ravenna in the Adriatic Sea refused entry on Thursday to two trucks that were allegedly carrying weapons to Israel.

Alessandro Barattoni of the centre-left Ravenna mayor told reporters that the port authority accepted his and the regional government's request to deny the explosives-laden lorries access to Haifa port in Israel.

Barattoni, in a press release, said that although the Italian government claims to have blocked the sale to Israel of arms, it's unacceptable that they can be imported from other countries through Italy due to bureaucratic loopholes.

He didn't provide any details about the origin of the containers or evidence as to their contents.

Dockworkers from other European countries, such as France and Sweden, have taken similar action to stop arms shipments to Israel.

Ravenna's action reflects the growing mobilization in Italy in opposition to Israel's attack and support for an international flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Palestinians.

The spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Rome declined to comment on the matter, stating that they did not possess sufficient information regarding the case. Israel's government accuses European countries of being biased against it, and of consuming propaganda from the Hamas militants group that it is fighting in Gaza.

The CGIL will be holding a half-day national strike on Friday, and will march in Rome and other major cities. On September 22, two other unions are planning to stop work and block activities in the ports of Genoa, and Livorno.

"We will not let one pin pass through the port," Riccardo Rudino, from the Calp dockers union in Genoa.

Gaza's health officials report that Israel's current campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 65,000 people. Most were civilians. The enclave is in ruins.

According to Israeli figures, the attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants began on October 7, 2023. More than 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

The CGIL stated that its protests were aimed to generate pressure on Prime Minister Giorgia Melons government "to cancel all commercial and military agreements with Israel, lift humanitarian embargo and recognise the State of Palestine."

Antonio Tajani, Italy's Foreign Minister, said that on Thursday the country would support EU sanctions aimed at violent Israeli settlers as well as Israeli ministers making "unacceptable comments" about Gaza and West Bank. He also indicated his willingness to consider trade sanctions. (Reporting and writing by Anna Uras; editing by Alvise Armellini and Andrew Cawthorne).

(source: Reuters)