The world organization for the protection of human rights, Amnesty International, announced that Montenegro and Slovenia must prevent the port of the ship "Katrin", which sails under the Portuguese flag and is believed to be carrying explosives for Israel, from docking in their ports. at the clear risk that such cargo would contribute to the commission of war crimes in Gaza.
"According to the Namibian government and the Portuguese foreign minister, the cargo of the ship 'Katrin' includes explosives destined for Israel. Namibian authorities refused to allow the ship to enter their main port in August, citing information from the ship's operator that the ship's cargo included eight containers of RDKS Hekogen of explosives for Israel. The statements of the Cabinet of the Slovenian Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs indicate that the ship is going to Montenegro and the Slovenian port of Kopar, where it will unload its cargo. It is unclear how the cargo will reach Israel after that. AI announced.
"The deadly cargo believed to be on board the MV Katrin must not reach Israel, as there is a clear risk that such cargo would contribute to the commission of war crimes against Palestinian civilians," said Nataša Posel, head of Amnesty International's Slovenia branch.
"Namibia rightly fulfilled its international obligations by ensuring that the MV Katrin did not transfer military cargo to Israel through that country's port. Now it is up to Slovenia, Montenegro and all other countries to do the same and avoid enabling illegal transfers," she added.
AI notes that international humanitarian law (IHL) prohibits all states from transferring weapons to a party to an armed conflict when there is a clear risk that doing so would contribute to the commission of war crimes or other grave violations of IHL.
They also say that the AI has documented extensive evidence of war crimes committed by all sides "in the latest escalation of the conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory using a wide range of weapons." Amnesty International's research, they add, shows that the Israeli army used explosives for direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and indiscriminate attacks in Gaza, blocked humanitarian aid and collectively punished Palestinians during the past year.
"States that continue to transfer arms to Israel are therefore acting contrary to their obligations under common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions and must urgently prevent all such transfers. Moreover, as signatories to the Arms Trade Treaty, Montenegro, Portugal and Slovenia have committed to establishing the highest of possible common international standards for the regulation of international trade in conventional weapons in order to reduce human suffering," points out AI.
They also add that Portugal, as the country under whose flag the ship sails, must not use its vessel to transfer explosives or must remove its flag in order not to assist in the transfer.
"Amnesty International is calling for an immediate arms embargo on Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza for their use of weapons to commit war crimes and other grave violations. Any state that knowingly transfers arms to parties to this ongoing conflict, including by transiting ships carrying arms and explosives, risks breaching its obligation not to encourage or facilitate violations of the Geneva Conventions. "Portugal, Slovenia and Montenegro must not allow such a transfer of weapons to Israel," said Nataša Posel.
AI reminds that the ship "Katrin" left the Vietnamese port of Hai Pong with cargo on July 21.
"On August 24, Namibian authorities withdrew the previous permission for the MV Katrin to enter Namibia's main port, citing information from the ship's operator that some of the explosives on board were intended for Israel. This decision was based on concerns about potential complicity in war crimes in The MV Katrin was due to dock in Namibia's Walvis Bay on August 25. On August 31, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said eight containers of explosives on board the MV Katrin were 'allegedly key components in the aerial bombs. and missiles' that Israel uses against the Palestinians. The Albanians have called on other countries to block the docking of the ship in their ports. The countries must respect their legal obligations under the common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions and should immediately stop all transfers of weapons to Israel.
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