The Barcelona port loading and unloading workers’ union announced that they refused to load and unload any military equipment during the war in Gaza. Belgian transport unions also made a statement last week a similar move He then called for the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
OEPB union secretary Joseph Maria Deop, He said they aim to encourage other Spanish ports to follow the same path. OEPB is the only union representing 1,200 loading and unloading workers at the port of Barcelona.
While Deop said peace-promoting organizations could help the union determine which containers contain military equipment, he said they were confident military shipments were coming from Barcelona because “it is a port where all kinds of goods are transported.”
Barcelona’s port authority declined to comment and said it had no data on military shipments. According to the latest available official data, Spain exported military equipment worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.39 billion) in the first half of 2022, with shipments to Israel amounting to 9 million euros.
According to state news agency EFE, citing government sources, it was stated that Spain does not plan to export any lethal military equipment to be used in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. While OEPB says it opposes all forms of violence wherever it occurs, including in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and its boycott aims to protect civilians everywhere. “No reason justifies sacrificing civilians” said.
Dockers in Barcelona implemented a similar boycott in 2011 due to the conflict in Libya. They have also been involved in humanitarian aid delivery projects to Western Sahara and Nicaragua in recent years.