BREAKING: 14 tons of military supplies to Israel are blocked after designating them as part of a just-exposed illegal arms trafficking scheme through Italy’s port of Ravenna, Italy! Stop the illegal military transfers that fuel Israel’s genocide, apartheid and illegal military occupation against the Palestinian people now!
The Italian Court of Appeal confirmed the seizure of a 14-ton load of weapons components (cannon pieces) produced by Valforge, a company in Lecco, at the port of Ravenna, which were to be embarked for transport to Israel. They were blocked after reports that they lacked the necessary export licence. The cargo contained 800 metal pieces classified as armament material, with the recipient the Israeli company IMI Systems Ltd., a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military company.
The decision of the Italian Court of Appeals has revealed 4 other shipments by Valforge during 2024 made to Ashot Ashkelon Industries, an offspring of IMI Systems. Ashot Ashkelon Industries has seen its share price skyrocketing by 250% in the last years as the Israeli Ministry of Defense showered it with contracts.
According to Italian law, the export (transit, intra-EU transfer, and brokerage) of military materials is prohibited, among others: a) to countries in a state of armed conflict b) to countries whose governments are responsible for serious violations of international conventions on human rights, ascertained by the competent bodies of the United Nations, the EU or the Council of Europe;
Trade unions and other civil society associations in Ravenna have also denounced the failure of the company Itway, apparently contracted for port security, including for the control of military cargo, to take action.
Radiflow, like almost all Israeli cyber “security” corporations, has deep roots and links in the Israeli military. According to the company’s website, its CEO brings his experience from the Information Security division of the “IDF,” while its Chief Technology Officer served for 10 years in an Israeli military Intelligence Corp elite R&D Unit and Unit 8200.
A military embargo on Israel is a legal obligation, urgent and possible. The UN Human Rights Council has called for it and over 50 states have formally adopted it. We are building effective people’s power to make it happen. Italy has to urgently ensure that all its ports and airports are closed to any military transfers to or from Israel and that all its companies stop supplying and cooperating with apartheid Israel and its genocidal military industry.
