Photo: Malta Ship RegistryActivist group Ġustizzja għall-Palestina is urging Malta to do all it can to stop a Malta-flagged vessel from shipping military-grade steel to an Israeli weapons manufacturer, insisting that the country cannot render itself complicit to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In a statement issued on Friday, the group cited the work of Irish investigative journalism outlet The Ditch, which is reporting on shipments of steel to IMI Systems, an arms manufacturer that is now part of Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.
The steel, which is being produced by Spanish company Sidenor, is being shipped from Barcelona to Haifa on vessels operated by Israeli shipping company ZIM.
The Ditch has confirmed that another shipment of steel is set to be loaded in Barcelona on the ZIM Luanda – a Malta-flagged vessel – on 1 July, and Ġustizzja għall-Palestina is adamant that Malta must act before then and halt the use of Malta’s flag, territorial waters and port services for any such transfers “destined for use in Israel’s genocidal violence and other violations under international law.”
The activist group insisted that the transfer of military materiel – including dual-use items like military-grade steel – to a state plausibly committing genocide as determined by the International Court of Justice is a violation of international law, and Malta cannot render itself complicit in any way.
“We therefore remind you that Malta must seek cooperation from coastal states to prevent the ZIM Luanda from loading the illegal cargo. In case of non-compliance Malta must hold those responsible accountable and de-flag the ship,” Ġustizzja għall-Palestina said.
The activist group also insisted that Malta must immediately adopt a policy reaffirming its obligations to engage in the necessary due diligence to ensure that no military supplies reach Israel or any conflict area across the world.
With this in mind, it invited Malta to follow the example of Antigua and Barbuda – another small nation with an outsized shipping register.
Just last month, the Caribbean island nation imposed a strict prohibition on any vessel flying its flag “to carry arms, ammunition, or other military equipment intended for delivery to, or use in, a conflict zone,” irrespective of the nature of the voyage or any contractual obligations. Any vessels in breach of this obligation were said to be liable to de-registration or even detainment in a foreign port for the removal of the prohibited cargo at the request of Antigua and Barbuda’s maritime administration.
“To do nothing is to be complicit with Israel’s escalating crimes against Palestinians,” Ġustizzja għall-Palestina insisted.
