Swedish dockworkers threaten blockade to and from 'Israel'
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According to the union, the blockade will go into force on January 27.
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An aerial view of the Eliat-Ashkelon oil terminal at the Red port city of Eilat, occupied Palestine, on February 9, 2021. (AFP)
Sweden's Dockworkers' Union has announced an embargo of military materiel to and from the Israeli occupation.
According to the union, the blockade, which will go into force on January 27, is being implemented in solidarity with the Palestinian trade union movement in response to the war on Gaza.
It is unknown which exact items would be affected, but according to chairman Martin Berg, the union will take precautions.
"This means that we will not give special consideration to economic interests for Swedish companies and public institutions, but that we will, in cases of doubt about goods on their way to or from Israel, whether they are of civilian or military character, refuse to load or unload them," according to a press release.
EU ministers reject Israeli arms ban despite Gaza war crimes evidence
The Intercept revealed last month that European Union foreign ministers rejected a proposal to halt arms exports to "Israel", despite being presented with evidence of war crimes and genocide in an internal EU assessment.
The 35-page report, authored by Olof Skoog, the EU's special representative for human rights, was sent to ministers ahead of a council meeting on November 18.
The document, which had not been disclosed before, presented findings from United Nations sources on violations of international humanitarian law committed by "Israel" and Hamas since the start of the war in October 2023.
The report emphasized the disproportionate toll on civilians in Gaza, with an estimated 45,000 deaths, more than half of whom were women and children.
"War has rules," the assessment stated. "Given the high level of civilian casualties and human suffering, allegations focus mainly on how duty bearers, including the Israeli [Occupation] Forces (IOF), have seemingly failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants and to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects against the effects of the attacks, in violation of the fundamental principles of IHL."
The report also cited "dehumanizing language" used by Israeli officials, warning that it might "contribute to evidence of intent" to commit genocide. "Incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence — such as that made in statements by Israeli officials — constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law and may amount to the international crime of incitement to genocide," it added.
