Italian port blocks Israeli arms shipment

The Chronify

September 19, 2025

On Thursday, Italy’s Ravenna port blocked the entry of two trucks carrying weapons bound for Israel. The move came following protests by dockworkers and labor unions against the ongoing attacks in Gaza.

Ravenna’s center-left mayor, Alessandro Barattoni, told reporters that after discussions with the regional government, he requested port authorities to block the two trucks carrying explosives from proceeding toward Israel’s Haifa port.

Barattoni said Italy has already stopped selling arms to Israel, but allowing weapons from other countries to pass through Italian territory due to legal loopholes is completely unacceptable.

He did not provide details about the origin of the trucks or the exact contents of the containers.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza as “unacceptable.” However, unlike France and Spain, she said she is not in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state at this moment, arguing that a genuine Palestinian state must first be established.

Earlier, dockworkers in France, Sweden, and Greece also took similar steps to block arms shipments headed to Israel. Across Europe, labor unions have been staging such protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.