New Delhi, Feb. 20: Amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine war, the Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) has also called for an immediate ceasefire and demanded a free Palestine state. The Federation, which represents 3,500 workers across 11 key Indian ports, has refused to handle weapons shipments to Israel that could be used in its war on Gaza.
“We the port workers, part of labour unions, would always stand against the war and killing of innocent people like women and children,” T Narendra Rao, the union’s general secretary, said in a letter dated February 14.
“Women and children have been blown to pieces in the war. Parents were unable to recognise their children killed in bombings which were exploding everywhere.”
The port workers’ federation said in the letter that its members have “collectively decided to refuse handling all types of weaponised cargo”.
“Loading and unloading the weapons helps provide organisations with the ability to kill innocent people,” the letter said.
Further the workers have said, “We therefore call for an immediate ceasefire. As the responsible trade unions, we declare our solidarity with those who campaign for peace. We call upon the workers of the world and peace-loving people to stand with the demand of free Palestine.”
The war, which started after Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel, has continued for more than four months. Hamas had taken more than 200 persons hostage. Some of them were released in November as part of a ceasefire agreement in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
On Sunday, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said that nearly 29,000 Palestinians have been killed and 68,883 have been injured in Israel’s relentless attack, resulting in a humanitarian crisis in the territory, Al Jazeera reported.
WTWFI, founded in the late 1970s, is a trade union representing workers at India’s government-owned ports.
