Portugal’s involvement is being criticized by pro-Palestinian organizations and raising questions about a possible violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Government refuses to comment.
The freighter Holger G, registered under the Portuguese flag in the Madeira International Ship Registry (MAR), is on the way to Israel and transports more than 400 tons of military material.
According to the report, the vessel is heading to the port of Haifa, where it should arrive on the night of December 30th, after a scheduled stopover on the coast of Egypt on the 22nd.
On board are almost 140 tons of weapons components, 124 tons of steel and 175 tons of 155 mm artillery projectiles. The final destination of the shipment will be the factories of Elbit Systems, in northern Israel, and IMI Systems, in the Tel Aviv region. IMI, a former public armaments company, was acquired by Elbit in 2018, currently the largest Israeli manufacturer of ammunition, drones and missiles.
Port documents classify cargo as “bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and military ammunition and their componentsThe ship left Chennai on November 2 and was sailing off the coast of Guinea this week.
MAR only confirmed that it was “aware of the situation” and would forward any further clarifications to the respective ministries. So far, no one in charge of the Defense, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture and Sea departments has commented on the case.
Portugal’s involvement in sending weapons to Israel has already sparked criticism and protests, with the Unitary Platform for Solidarity with Palestine (PUSP) accusing the Government of failing to comply with international obligations by being complicit in the transport of weapons. weapons for an “ongoing genocide”. Remember that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates the duty to prevent ships registered under its flag from participating in illegal activities, including supporting war crimes.
The protests were not limited to Portugal, with several organizations in Mozambique also opposing the ship’s stopover off Maputo for refueling.
The Left Bloc questioned minister Paulo Rangel, who has not yet responded when he will provide clarifications in Parliament.
