What it is about:

Spain has refused permission for a ship carrying arms to Israel to dock at a Spanish port, marking a significant move in its foreign policy.

Why it matters:

This is the first time Spain has taken action against a vessel transporting arms to Israel, reflecting its stance on arms distribution and the Middle East conflict.

Details:

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced on Thursday that Spain turned away the Marianne Danica, a Danish-flagged ship carrying 27 tons of explosive material from India to Haifa, Israel. The ship had requested to dock at Cartagena, southeastern Spain, on May 21.

“This will be a consistent policy with any ship carrying arms to Israel that wants to call at Spanish ports. The Middle East does not need more weapons, it needs more peace,” said Albares.

The incident reflects Spain’s strong stance on increasing weapons in the Middle East and its approach to maintaining regional stability.

The context:

The refusal for the Marianne Danica to dock comes amid internal political friction between Spain’s ruling Socialist party and their coalition partners, Sumar, over another controversial ship, the Borkum. While pro-Palestinian groups claim the Borkum carries arms for Israel, Transport Minister Oscar Puente clarified that it is transporting military material to the Czech Republic.

Big picture:

Spain has been vocally critical of Israel, particularly regarding its efforts in Gaza. The tensions between Israel and Hamas escalated drastically on October 7 when Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel, leading to a high casualty event. Israel’s subsequent military actions in Gaza have resulted in substantial reported deaths, though the exact figures remain disputed and complicated by the challenges of distinguishing between civilian and terrorist casualties.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.