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<div class="gmail-inner-article-top"><h1 class="gmail-">Italian port authorities halt Israel-bound shipments of 'military-grade steel' from India</h1><p class="gmail-">The shipments are being held at Italian ports, as activists say the cargo could produce thousands of explosive shells</p><div class="gmail-another-name"><p><a href="https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9" style="color:rgb(164,4,4)">News Desk</a></p></div><div class="gmail-another-name" style="margin-top:16px"><p><span style="color:rgb(84,88,94)">MAY 19, 2026 -<font size="1"> </font></span><font size="1"><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/italian-port-authorities-halt-israel-bound-shipments-of-military-grade-steel-from-india">https://thecradle.co/articles/italian-port-authorities-halt-israel-bound-shipments-of-military-grade-steel-from-india</a></font></p></div></div><div class="gmail-inner-article-img"><img src="https://thecradle-main.oss-eu-central-1.aliyuncs.com/public/articles/6ce13144-5382-11f1-9ff0-00163e02c055.webp" alt="" width="524" height="295" style="margin-right: 0px;"><span>(Phot credit: Reuters)</span></div><div class="gmail-inner-article-content"><div class="gmail-row"><div class="gmail-col-md-8 gmail-col-sm-7"><div class="gmail-article-content"><span class="gmail-article-body"><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Italian
authorities are holding three shipments suspected of carrying
military-grade steel from India to Israel after activists from the
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and No Harbour for
Genocide (NHB) exposed their contents, <i>Middle East Eye</i> (MEE) reported on 18 May.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">According
to the activists, the shipments amount to roughly 806 tonnes of
military-grade steel and could be used to manufacture up to 17,458
artillery shells for the Israeli army. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">They
said the cargo originated from R L Steels & Energy Limited in
Aurangabad and was destined for IMI Systems, now known as </span><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/israels-elbit-systems-reports-record-profits-on-the-back-of-gaza-genocide"><span style="background-color:transparent">Elbit Systems</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent"> Land, in Ramat Hasharon.</span></p><div><div>
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</div></div><div style="margin-top:12px;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif"><div style="font-size:12px;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:8px">Content from blocked embed:</div><div>NEW:
Activists with the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement
and No Harbour for Genocide (NHB) are raising the alarm over what they
describe as a "flood" of military supplies from India to Israel, after
six shipments of suspected military-grade steel were identified\u2026 <a href="https://t.co/uGxnJX7r65" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration:underline">pic.twitter.com/uGxnJX7r65</a>\u2014 Azad Essa (@azadessa) <a href="https://twitter.com/azadessa/status/2056709436136370336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration:underline">May 19, 2026</a></div></div></div> <p><span style="background-color:transparent">Three
consignments transported by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
are being held in Gioia Tauro and Cagliari, while another three were
reportedly rerouted toward Sri Lanka after activists began tracking the
vessels. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">\u201cWe
are seeing now a flood of military supplies from India to Israel,\u201d Ilham
Yaseen, military embargo coordinator with BDS, told <i>MEE</i>. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">She
called for pressure \u201cto stop these supplies from reaching Israel and to
hold the far-right Indian government and any complicit Indian company
accountable for their complicity in Israel\u2019s atrocity crimes.\u201d</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">A
spokesperson for NHB said the steel was heading to \u201cthe Ramat Hasharon
ammunition plant, which has no civilian output. It\u2019s all military
production. We know this 100 percent.\u201d</span></p><div><div>
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</div></div><div style="margin-top:12px;padding:12px;border-radius:4px;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif"><div style="font-size:12px;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:8px">Content from blocked embed:</div><div>In
just the first three months of 2026, BDS strategic campaigning
contributed to at least 80 achievements across more than 15 different
campaign areas.<br><br>You helped make all of this possible. Continue building pressure with us.<br><br>Donate today \u27a1\ufe0f<a href="https://t.co/wNIgvTTjOR" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration:underline">https://t.co/wNIgvTTjOR</a> <a href="https://t.co/JrugQ8UjNM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration:underline">pic.twitter.com/JrugQ8UjNM</a>\u2014 BDS movement (@BDSmovement) <a href="https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/2056710623384174938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration:underline">May 19, 2026</a></div></div></div> <p><span style="background-color:transparent">Activists
say the deliveries underline India\u2019s growing role in supplying Israel
during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon, particularly as demand for 155mm
artillery shells has surged.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">The
activists also accused shipping firms of obscuring routes and
destinations to avoid scrutiny, after Spain reportedly blocked one
vessel from docking, Greek dockworkers refused to unload cargo, and
Italian authorities later detained three shipments for possible
inspection. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">On 6 February, dockworkers from </span><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles-id/35727"><span style="background-color:transparent">more than 20 ports</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent">
across Italy, Greece, the Basque Country, Morocco, and Turkiye carried
out coordinated action under the banner \u201cDockworkers Don\u2019t Work for
War,\u201d aiming to disrupt arms shipments and oppose the use of civilian
ports for war logistics.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Italy\u2019s
Unione Sindacale di Base said the action sought to \u201censure that
European and Mediterranean ports are places of peace, free from any
involvement in war.\u201d</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Francesco Staccioli of USB warned, \u201cIf we don\u2019t take this step, all our other demands will be crushed under war.\u201d</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Across
Europe, since the genocide in Gaza was launched in October 2023, court
rulings, national bans, dockworker actions, and rail blockades have
worked to obstruct Israeli military shipments.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Despite this, many European states continue to facilitate arms transfers to Israel, with Germany approving</span><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/germany-approved-millions-in-arms-sales-to-israel-during-early-days-of-iran-war"><span style="background-color:transparent"> $7.8 million in arms exports</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent">
during the first weeks of the US-Israeli war on Iran, despite lawyers
pursuing German officials for aiding Israel\u2019s genocide in Gaza through
weapons deliveries.</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Most recently, Israeli media reported that </span><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/germany-approved-millions-in-arms-sales-to-israel-during-early-days-of-iran-war"><span style="background-color:transparent">dozens of cargo planes</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent">
transported ammunition through US military bases in Germany, as
Washington and Tel Aviv intensified preparations for possible renewed
attacks on Iran.</span></p></span></div></div></div></div>
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