DaysofPal- Pro-Palestinian activists in Italy have launched a campaign aimed at disrupting the transfer of military-related goods they believe are connected to Israeli genocidal war in Gaza.
The initiative, titled “Global Intifada Disarm,” was unveiled during coordinated land and sea demonstrations at the southern port of Gioia Tauro on Tuesday.
The maritime protest began a day earlier, with boats departing from the nearby port of Cetraro and heading toward Gioia Tauro.
Organizers said the action forms part of a wider movement opposing the Israeli war in Gaza while calling for greater transparency in the handling of military and dual-use cargo passing through Italian ports.
Demonstrators displayed banners reading, “No to the war supply chain – let’s stop the war of genocide,” as they gathered at the site.
Antonio Viteritti, a member of the La Base Cosenza group, said activists were maintaining a presence at the port to protest the cooperation between Italian authorities, institutions, and multinational companies, particularly the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)—in supporting Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Viteritti claimed that 16 containers carrying dual-use ballistic steel, which could be used in missile production, were currently being held at the port. He added that activists had raised concerns about the materials for months but had yet to receive a clear response from authorities regarding any permanent halt to such shipments.
He also noted that two consignments of weapons destined for Israeli occupation had been seized at the same port the previous year.
Ahead of the protest, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Italy campaign alerted labor unions and local organizations that the container ship MSC Manasvi was expected to dock at Gioia Tauro to collect eight containers that had previously drawn scrutiny. However, activists reported that the vessel remained offshore for several hours before leaving without loading the cargo.
The incident has fueled ongoing concerns among campaigners about the transit of military-related goods through the Calabrian port.
Earlier in 2026, the No Harbour for Genocide campaign, backed by BDS Italy, raised alarms over a shipment of ballistic steel reportedly originating in India and transported on MSC-operated vessels. Following these reports, Italy’s Finance Police and Customs Agency conducted inspections of eight containers at the port on March 18.
In response, Five Star Movement lawmaker Stefania Ascari submitted a parliamentary inquiry seeking clarification from the government about the shipment and oversight procedures at the port.
Peppe Marra, a regional representative of the USB trade union, emphasized the importance of continued public attention, stating that scrutiny helps prevent such cargo from being quietly transferred at a later stage without public knowledge.
Organizers also highlighted increasing collaboration between labor movements and pro-Palestinian activism across Italy. Roberto Panza of La Base Cosenza described the Mediterranean as belonging to all peoples of the Global South and called for solidarity in the pursuit of social justice, economic dignity, and peace.
The protest follows a broader wave of mobilization across Italy since the escalation of the Gaza genocide, including strikes, demonstrations, university occupations, and actions by dockworkers. A nationwide strike held on May 29 was part of these ongoing efforts, alongside continued activism linked to the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative.
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