"Indian port workers refuse to handle Israel weapon shipments", 20 February 2024

A trade union representing workers at 11 major Indian ports says it will refuse to operate shipments carrying weapons to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza, days after reports emerged that Indian-made drones are being shipped to Tel Aviv.

The Water Transport Workers Federation of India said in a statement that it has decided to “refuse to load or unload weaponised cargoes” from Israel or any other country which could handle military equipment for “war in Palestine”.

“We the Port workers, part of labour unions would always stand against the war and killing [of] innocent people like women and children,” a statement by the union said.

The union represents more than 3,500 workers at 11 government-owned ports in India...

In an interview with the Middle East Eye, T Narendra Rao, general secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, said they will “boycott” handling of any vessel carrying arms or ammunitions or weaponised cargo to Israel...

It comes days after it was reported that the Israeli army received 20 Indian-made Hermes 900 drones that have been used on the besieged strip.

A source at Adani Group, which runs 12 ports across several states, told The Wire that the drones were supplied to Israel.