Swedish port workers set to blockade Israeli goods

Dockworkers will launch a blockade of Israeli ships and goods arriving in Sweden. The trade union action is in protest at last Monday's deadly assault on the Freedom Flotilla taking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Swedish Port Workers Union has announced its members will refuse to handle Israeli goods and ships during the blockade, due to take place on 15-24 June. The 1,500-strong union already supports Ship to Gaza, which took part in the flotilla.

Workers will block Israeli ships and not handle any of their goods during the 10-day blockade. A union spokesperson said the decision to blockade Israeli ships and goods was in response to the "criminal attack" on the convoy of ships, which was non-violent.

Israeli forces attacked the humanitarian mission in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, in the early hours of last Monday, killing nine Turkish citizens. 50 other people were injured, and the the fate of three Freedom Flotilla activists is still unknown.

Israel detained nearly 700 activists from 42 countries on board the 6 Freedom Flotilla boats, which were attempting to break the siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.

The Swedish port workers' action is amongst the most high-profile protests at Israel's actions. It will follow a wave of international protests, which reached a new high on Saturday with large demonstrations in many major cities including London and Edinburgh.

At London's demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy George Galloway, Viva Palestina campaigner and former MP, announced new plans for a major aid convoy to again attempt to break the siege. British survivors of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla also spoke at the demonstration, joined by around 20,000 people.


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