Fos-sur-Mer: Dockers Block Israel-Bound Military Cargo
French dockers in Marseille have taken a bold stand, blocking the shipment of military equipment bound for Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The dockworkers, affiliated with the CGT union, have refused to load what they believe are military components, fearing complicity in the conflict escalating the tension in Gaza. this action, echoed by solidarity actions in Genoa, Italy, highlights increasing scrutiny of arms exports and their potential impact. The French dockers’ stance, combined with the concerns of the CGT union, creates a major international incident. News Directory 3 is following the story closely. Explore the ramifications of this protest and discover what the future holds for international arms deals and the impact on the region.
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French Dockers block Shipments to Israel Over Gaza concerns
Updated June 5, 2025
Dockers in Marseille,France,affiliated with the CGT union,blocked two additional containers destined for Israel on Thursday,following a similar action Wednesday. the workers refused to load what they believed were military components, asserting they did not want to be “complicit in massacres.” This action highlights growing concerns over arms exports and potential misuse in conflict zones.
The CGT dockworkers union for the Gulf of Fos (Bouches-du-Rhône) issued a statement thursday, saying, “Today, we discovered two more containers slated for the Contship Era with dismay. According to our facts, these are cannon tubes manufactured by Aubert et Duval in Firminy [Loire].”
On Wednesday,the same dockworkers had already refused to load parts for machine guns,produced by Marseille-based Eurolinks,onto the same ship headed for Haifa,Israel.Their stated reason was to avoid “participating in the ongoing genocide orchestrated by the Israeli government.” The military equipment was intended for Israel arms manufacturers.
the union stated Thursday, “The port of Fos should not be used to ship munitions or arms for any war. The workers of the port of Fos do not want to be complicit in massacres, in the loss of human lives.” The French dockers are taking a stand.
Solidarity Actions
The CGT public services federation voiced its “total support” for the action, announcing that “Italian dockers in the port of Genoa have decided to take over from the French dockers.” A group of Genoese dockers announced on Facebook that they would block activity at the Italian port Friday afternoon. A support demonstration in Marseille thursday evening drew about 100 people.
According to the CGT, the blocked container from Wednesday held 19 pallets of links, small metal parts used in machine guns to enable rapid fire. The export of these links had been previously reported, with concerns raised that they could be “used against civilians in the Gaza Strip.”
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that the parts could only be “re-exported” by Israel. The ministry confirmed that the export license stipulates the parts must be fully re-exported to France and other partner countries.
A source familiar with the matter said the cannon tubes from Aubert et Duval are under “a re-export license to european countries.” Aubert & Duval told AFP that they sell steel tubes to Elbit systems, which transforms them. The export license granted by the French state explicitly states that the final product must be re-exported to armed forces other than those of Israel. The company asserted it does not sell military equipment intended for Israeli armed forces. Eurolinks did not respond to requests for comment.
Political Reactions
CGT General Secretary sophie binet supported the Marseille dockers’ movement, calling on the government to “immediately block all arms deliveries to the State of Israel.”
Amnesty International France President Anne Savinel