Spanish port refuses ship over arms to Israel

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AFP) — A Maersk container ship has been denied entry to the Spanish port of Algeciras, the Danish shipping company said Saturday, denying that the vessel is transporting arms to Israel.

“The cargo to be transshipped through the port does not include any military weapons or ammunition,” Maersk said in a communique.

Spanish daily El Pais earlier this week had cited Spanish government officials saying that the ship, as well as another also belonging to Maersk and due to dock later this month, “will not stop in Spain,” according to the press, because its cargo includes weapons being delivered to Israel.

Spain, which is seeking to convince other European countries to recognize a Palestinian state, has refused docking to shops transporting arms to Israel.

“To gain clarity for future operations, we have consulted the Spanish authorities to understand why entry was denied for cargo no different than previous shipments that have routinely been transshipped through this port without incident,” the Danish company said.

“It is our understanding that Spain has in its discretion changed its criteria and is now rejecting vessels that carry anything military related going to, or from, Israel, notwithstanding such cargo being legal.”

Spain, which has stopped exports arms to Israel, is one of the European countries most critical of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

The Maersk Denver diverted first to Tangier and according to the specialized VesselFinder site is now en route to Oman.