New Delhi, Oct. 31 -- Unions in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Morocco issued a joint call for an end to wars in the Middle East, including the war in Gaza, and "an end to the militarization of ports."

"Ports must not be used for the transport of weapons, ammunition, military equipment and troops," the statement said. "Dockworkers do not work for war!"

Organizers said more than 100 ports across several countries had joined the protests, which could disrupt operations in Europe, the Mediterranean region and North America.

In Greece, dockworkers' unions called a strike at Piraeus, the country's largest port. A separate seafarers' strike over pay, working conditions and safety kept ships docked at several ports, disrupting ferry...