Blockades, boycott, and strikes are crucial solidarity actions to stop the Western-sponsored genocide of the Palestinian people
By Michael Pröbsting, Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT), 7 December 2023, www.thecommunists.net
Today, workers in Britain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands have simultaneously blocked arms factories in their countries to protest Israel’s massacre in Gaza. These are corporations which provide components for arms used by the Zionist state for its war crimes against the Palestinian people.
In Britain, more than 1,000 workers have participated in these solidarity activities, blocking four arms factories. They are part of “Workers for a Free Palestine” – a campaign which includes teachers, health workers, hospitality workers and others who are members of a wide range of trade unions, including Unite, UNISON, GMB, NEU, BMA, UCU, BECTU and BFAWU. [1]
The campaign issued a statement which said: “We salute all those in the trade union movement taking a stand to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel. Shutting down four factories across the UK today, along with several simultaneous blockades in Europe, are critical acts of solidarity – refusing to conduct business as usual in the face of Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza and ongoing genocide. As the British government refuses to call for a ceasefire and directly supports Israel’s military attack, a rapidly growing movement of workers are clearly saying “not in our name”.
Arms deliveries from American and European corporations are indispensable for Israel. The Wall Street Journal, quoting official from the Biden Administration, reports that since 7 October alone, the U.S. has provided Israel with 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery shells – including 100 BLU-109, 2,000-pound bunker buster bombs. [2] Let’s be clear: without Western money and weapons, Netanyahu and his gang of war criminals could not carry out the current genocide in Gaza!
These solidarity actions are an excellent example how workers and oppressed in Europe and other regions can support the Palestinian people by hitting the suppliers of the Zionist military machine. Campaigns like “Workers for a Free Palestine” are part of a global solidarity movement marching on the streets in Arab and Muslim countries, South Africa, India, Australia, Western Europe, North and South America, etc. [3] Shamefully, the bureaucratic leadership of many trade unions in Western countries succumb to the pressure of their imperialist governments which are fanatic supporters of the Zionist Apartheid state.
The Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT) – including our comrades in Israel / Occupied Palestine – reiterates its unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle. In the current Gaza War – like in the past ones – we advocate the military victory of the resistance led by Hamas without lending political support to the program or all tactics of its leadership. [4]
Workers and popular mass organisation all over the world should intensify their solidarity activities with the Palestinian people. They need to implement a comprehensive boycott of the Israeli Apartheid state. Blockade and sabotage all forms of military support for Israel. For strikes, protests and consumer boycott against Israeli goods, pro-Israeli political and cultural events!
Victory to the Palestinian resistance! Defeat Israel!
[1] See on this e.g. Taj Ali: Four Arms Factories Across the UK Blockaded in Solidarity with Palestine, 07.12.2023, https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/12/four-arms-factories-across-the-uk-blockaded-in-solidarity-with-palestine; The Guardian: Four arms factories in the UK producing Israeli fighter jets have been shut down by 1,000 trade unionists operating under the banner Workers for a Free Palestine, https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/07/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-hamas-leader-hiding-underground-idf-says-gaza-aid-system-collapse-news-palestine#maincontent; Joshua Askew: Pro-Palestinian protesters blockade Israel-linked arms factory in UK, 26/10/2023, https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/26/pro-palestinian-protesters-blockade-israel-linked-arms-factory-in-uk; BBC: Israel-Gaza: Union members block arms factory in protest over conflict, 10 November 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-67378052
[2] Jared Malsin: U.S. Sends Israel 2,000-Pound Bunker Buster Bombs for Gaza War, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 1, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-sends-israel-2-000-pound-bunker-buster-bombs-for-gaza-war-82898638
[3] See on this e.g. Michael Pröbsting: Practical Examples of International Workers Solidarity with Gaza. Trade unions in North America and Europe target the Israeli war machinery as part of a global wave of mass mobilisations, 10 November 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/practical-examples-of-international-workers-solidarity-with-gaza/; by the same author: Indian Trade Unions Join the Global Pro-Palestine Solidarity Movement, 12 November 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/indian-trade-unions-join-the-global-pro-palestine-solidarity-movement/
[4] We refer readers to a special page on our website where the RCIT documents on the 2023 Gaza War are compiled: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/compilation-of-articles-on-the-gaza-uprising-2023/.