Gaza Herald- Amnesty International urged governments on Friday to bar a German-owned cargo vessel transporting military components to Israel, cautioning that the delivery could contribute to genocide and other serious violations of international law, according to Anadolu.
The Portuguese-flagged vessel Holger G is reportedly carrying approximately 440 tons of military-related cargo, including mortar bomb components, projectiles, and military-grade steel.
Amnesty International says the shipment is headed to Israeli defense companies and includes materials and components used in artillery, missiles, and rockets.
On Nov. 16, the Holger G set sail from India and is heading toward the Israeli port of Haifa, where the cargo is scheduled to arrive.
Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy, and campaigns, stated: “The hundreds of tons of lethal cargo aboard the Holger G must not reach Israel. There is a significant risk that this massive shipment could contribute to genocide and other serious international crimes against Palestinians.”
She warned that Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories amount to genocide, apartheid, and other serious international law violations, and that countries continuing normal relations with Israel risk being complicit in these crimes.
Amnesty International is calling on governments to enforce a full arms embargo on Israel and block arms shipments, emphasizing that Portugal, as the ship’s flag state and a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty, must act to prevent the cargo from being delivered.
The organization also condemned the German shipping company Reederei Gerdes, urging it to ensure its operations do not facilitate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
It warned that countries enabling arms shipments to Israel could be violating the Geneva Conventions, the Arms Trade Treaty, and recent guidance from the International Court of Justice.
Palestinians have confirmed that Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire that ended a two-year war, which has claimed nearly 70,700 lives, mostly women and children, and left over 170,000 injured since October 2023.
The Health Ministry reports that since the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have killed at least 395 Palestinians and injured 1,088 others.
