\u201cPeople of Oakland, across faiths and religions, have steadily raised calls for the end to Israel\u2019s violence against Gaza, and have been advocating for elected officials across California to do their part to stop arming Israel,\u201d said Rev. Jeanelle Ablola, with the California-Nevada Philippine Solidarity Task Force.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the call of our faith to love our neighbor, to support those targeted and oppressed by dominant powers and to do what we can to make peace based on justice rather than a false peace based on military domination and subjugation,\u201d Ablola said.<\/p>\n
A few members at Thursday\u2019s protest unfurled a large banner which read \u201cKILLER CARGO OUT OF OAK. ARMS EMBARGO NOW.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaley Skantz, the airport\u2019s public information officer, told KQED in a statement that OAK is \u201clegally required to accommodate federally authorized air traffic, including air cargo arranged by the U.S. government and\/or private air cargo providers, including FedEx.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFedEx has a long-term ground lease with the Port of Oakland and is the largest air cargo carrier operating at the airport,\u201d Skantz added. \u201cAll of FedEx\u2019s flight and loading operations are carried out by FedEx employees directly in areas that FedEx exclusively controls.\u201d<\/p>\n The calls for action come as Israel\u2019s military has begun a new offensive in Gaza City. Bombings have destroyed several high-rise buildings and killed dozens, NPR reported.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n A report released this week by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has also accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The commission joined the list of groups, including two human rights groups within Israel, accusing the Israeli government of genocide, which Israel denies.<\/p>\n So far, Oakland City Council members have not responded to questions about shipments passing through OAK.<\/p>\n A spokesperson from Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee\u2019s office told KQED: \u201cMayor Lee values Oaklanders\u2019 voices when residents speak to global issues locally. Our office has asked the Port to verify the facts on this and to get back to the office with details.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee was famously the only member of Congress in 2001 to vote against a bill authorizing widespread use of military force in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.kqed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/09\/250918-Oakland-Arms-Folo-JCL-03-KQED.jpg\")