Spain Blocks Arms Shipment to Israel at Cartagena Port

Spain has refused permission for a ship carrying arms to Israel to dock at a Spanish port, marking a significant stance by the country amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced the decision on Thursday, highlighting Spain's commitment to peace in the region.

“This is the first time we have done this because it is the first time we have detected a ship carrying a shipment of arms to Israel that wants to call at a Spanish port,” Albares told reporters in Brussels. He emphasized that Spain would consistently reject similar stopovers in the future. “The Middle East does not need more weapons, it needs more peace,” he added.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente identified the ship as the Marianne Danica, which had requested permission to dock at Cartagena on May 21. According to El Pais, the Danish-flagged ship was transporting 27 tons of explosive material from Madras in India to Haifa in Israel.

The decision comes amid a political dispute between Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist party and its coalition partner, the hard-left Sumar party. The contention involves another ship, the Borkum, which is due to dock in Cartagena on Friday. Pro-Palestinian groups claim the Borkum is also carrying arms to Israel, prompting Sumar to demand that it be turned away. However, Puente clarified that the Borkum was transporting military material to the Czech Republic, not Israel.

Spain has been a vocal critic of Israel's offensive in Gaza and is actively seeking to rally European support for the recognition of a Palestinian state. The conflict in Gaza escalated on October 7, when Hamas terrorists launched an attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports over 35,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead since the conflict began, although only about 24,000 fatalities have been confirmed by hospitals. The death toll, which remains unverified and includes both terrorists and civilians, comprises roughly 15,000 terror operatives according to Israeli sources. Israel also reports killing around 1,000 terrorists during the October 7 incursion.

Spain's firm stance on preventing arms shipments to Israel underscores its broader strategy for promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, despite the complex and multifaceted nature of the ongoing conflict.

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