Pro-Palestinian organisations in Spain have demanded the government block a Danish cargo ship accused of transporting military material destined for Israel after it passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on Monday morning.
The vessel, the Danica Violet, crossed the Strait at around 11am while travelling from Madagascar towards the Greek port of Kali Limenes, according to shipping data cited by campaign groups.
Activists from Rescop and the Campaign to End Arms Trade with Israel claim the ship is carrying 60 tonnes of missile components, a container of artillery cannons and around 70 tonnes of military equipment ultimately bound for Israel.
The claims are based on an investigation published by Irish outlet The Ditch, which has been tracking shipping companies and vessels allegedly linked to arms supplies connected to Israel.
The groups had publicly urged the Spanish government to deny passage to the vessel and inspect it if it attempted to dock at a Spanish port, although no Spanish stopover is currently expected.
According to the organisations, the vessel’s final destination would ultimately be the Israeli port of Haifa.
‘The Danica Violet forms part of the Danish shipping company H. Folmer & Co., which specialises in explosive cargo transport,’ the groups said in a statement.
They added that both the vessel and the company had previously been accused of involvement in supplying Israel’s military operations.
The campaigners also pointed out that Spain reportedly denied the ship access to port in May 2025.
The organisations argued that because the vessel crossed Spanish territorial waters in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain had legal grounds under international maritime law to intervene.
They cited Article 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), claiming the vessel’s transit allegedly violated principles incorporated in the UN Charter.
The groups are now calling on Spain to urgently introduce legislation imposing a ‘comprehensive arms embargo’ against Israel, including bans on arms sales, purchases, transit operations and military cooperation.
They also demanded stricter inspections at Spanish ports and airports, as well as tighter controls on the use of US military bases located in Spain.
‘No Spanish port should permit the docking of ships involved in the arms trade with Israel,’ the organisations said.
The controversy comes amid continuing international pressure and protests linked to the war in Gaza, with activists increasingly focusing attention on shipping routes and logistics chains allegedly connected to military supplies.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
