Spain Rejects Request To Dock Ship Carrying Arms To Israel On Its Dock: Report (image@jmalbares)
Spain rejected permission to dock ship that carries arms to Israel at one of its ports, said the country”s foreign minister José Manuel Albares. Saying that the Middle East does not need more weapons but peace, Albares said Spain will systematically rejects any such stopovers. The ship was moving from India to Israel.
Talking to the reporters, Albares said this is the first time Madrid has made such move as it is the first time the country detect vessel carrying munitions to Israel that wants to call at its port. The minister did not provide details of the ship. However, Óscar Puente, the Transport Minister said that it was a Danish flagged the Marianne Danica asked permission to call on Spain”s south-eastern port of Cartagena on May 21st, said The Guardian.
Reportedly, the ship was carrying 27 tonnes of explosive material from India”s Chennai to Israel”s Haifa”s port. The announcement to deny permission to dock ship at Spanish port came amidst a row between Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez”s Socialists and coalition partners, the leftwing Sumar alliance, over Borkum, another ship due to dock in the the same port on Friday.
According to pro-Palestine protesters, Borkum is carrying weapons to Israel. The protesters prompted Sumar party to demand that Borkum”s request for permission to dock on Cartagena port be denied. However, Puente said that Borkum is not travelling to Israel but is carrying military materials to Czech Republic.
Spain has been a vocal critic of Israel”s offensive in Gaza. It has stopped arms deals with Israel after teh latter started military onslaught on civilians of Gaza. Spain also declared that the country is intending to recognise Palestine as a state by the coming July. Madrid”s strong voice has put other members of the European Union to in a compelling position to speak up against Israel”s brutal conduct war against Gaza. Spain”s voice played a role in raising concerns among the EU members that it is falling behind its moral, political and humanitarian duties.
Sánchez, the socialist prime minister of the country said that he has “genuine doubts” whether Tel Aviv is complying with international humanitarian law in its war against the civilians of Gaza. In an interview with Al Jazeera, the prime minister told that Israel”s action in Gaza could even lead to a debate among the EU members on “whether we continue with this strategic relation or not”.
After Israel started its brutal war in Gaza as a response to Hamas attack on Tel Aviv on October 7th, more than 35,000 Palestinians were killed and the remaining population are under the chokehold of indiscriminate bombing and forced famine.
