Spanish port denies entry to Danish ship, alleging it’s carrying arms to Israel
Maersk says vessel not carrying ‘military weapons or ammunition’; Spain has been one of Israel’s biggest critics in Europe over war in Gaza, recognized Palestinian state this year
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — 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 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 to dock ships 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.”
The Maersk Denver diverted first to Tangier and, according to the specialized VesselFinder site, is now en route to Oman.
Spain, which has stopped exporting arms to Israel, is one of the European countries most critical of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which Israel launched to destroy the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group after it invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducting 251 to Gaza, where 97 are still held hostage.
Alongside Ireland and Norway, the country recognized a Palestinian state in May, drawing ire from Israel, which said the move incentivized terrorism.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
