Tangier port sources deny knowledge of arms ship bound for Israel

Tensions are rising once again in Tangier as pro-Palestinian activists and anti-normalization groups rally against the potential docking of a cargo ship allegedly carrying weapons to Israel, owned by global shipping giant Maersk.

The vessel is reportedly scheduled to stop at the Tanger Med Port in two weeks before continuing its route to Haifa, Israel. Opponents have condemned the possible port call, calling it “dangerous and provocative” amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has claimed thousands of lives since October 7, 2023.

The Moroccan Initiative for Support and Advocacy in Tangier, which includes members of the Islamist-oriented Movement for Unity and Reform and its political wing, the Justice and Development Party, released a statement urging authorities to clarify whether the port will be used for such a transfer.

“If the ship, or any ship carrying weapons to the criminal Zionist entity, does indeed dock at the port, we call for broad protests to denounce what amounts to complicity in genocide,” the group said in its statement.

Reached for comment, officials at Tanger Med Port emphasized that the facility is a major hub for international trade, handling millions of containers from across the globe. A port representative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the containers that transit through the port are often part of complex transshipment operations and may stop at multiple ports before reaching their final destination.

“The scheduling and rerouting of ships are determined by the shipowners and terminal operators, who have the discretion to change port calls at any time,” the source said, adding that port authorities are not privy to the contents of transiting containers.

The statement appears to distance the port’s management from any direct involvement with the alleged arms shipment, amid growing calls from civil society groups to prevent Moroccan infrastructure from being used in ways that could implicate the country in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.