Embargo of Israeli military cargo gains Oakland Mayor Lee's support

"As you know, for decades, I have been opposed to the use of public property to militarize arms shipments, federal immigration enforcement, and public safety, whether it is in Oakland or anywhere else. Thus, I share your concerns about weapons and military cargo being shipped through the Oakland International Airport."

"This policy change would prevent weapons of war from being shipped through any U.S. port, including Oakland's. Lee said she would continue to express her concerns to the Port of Oakland's leadership and reiterated her support for Rep. Lateefah Simon's Block the Bombs Act, which was introduced last May."

"The activist group Palestinian Youth Movement published a report that documented how hundreds of shipments of armaments have traveled to Israel through Oakland's airport. The report claimed that over 250 civilian cargo planes had transported weapons or military equipment, including F-35 fighter jet components, from OAK to Nevatim Airbase, an Israeli military installation."

Mayor Barbara Lee of Oakland has joined activists and labor organizations demanding that the Port of Oakland cease shipping military equipment to Israel. Lee stated her decades-long opposition to using public property for militarizing arms shipments and expressed concern about weapons and military cargo moving through Oakland International Airport. She committed to voicing these concerns to Port leadership and reiterated support for Rep. Lateefah Simon's Block the Bombs Act, which would withhold offensive weapons shipments to Israel. A 2023 report documented hundreds of armament shipments traveling to Israel through Oakland's airport, including F-35 fighter jet components. This advocacy follows Israel's military campaign in Gaza that began after October 2023 attacks.

Read at The Oaklandside