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Ship loaded with 'explosives for Israel' docks in secret at Porto Romano

2024-10-24 21:23:00, Denoncim CNA

Ship loaded with 'explosives for Israel' docks in secret at Porto

With radars off for 26 hours in the Ionian Sea, the container ship "Kathrin" secretly moored at the fuel port, "Multi Buoy Mooring" in Porto Romano, Durrës on Thursday morning, having previously been refused entry to the waters. territories of Namibia in Africa and Malta in the southern tip of Europe.

The 130-meter-long vessel carries ten containers on board and was spotted by these reporters as it moored at the quay next to a huge green crane and a second vessel alongside it.

According to the alarm raised by the international human rights organization, Amnesty International, the ship "Kathrin" is suspected to be carrying on board a deadly load of explosives destined for Israel and this war material is believed to contribute to the commission of war crimes against civilians. Palestinians.

Amnesty International told BIRN through a spokesperson that Albania risks violating international conventions if it had allowed the ship into its territory.

"International humanitarian law prohibits all states from transferring arms to a party to an armed conflict..." said Patrick Wicken, Amnesty International's military, security and police researcher.

"If this ship is anchored in an Albanian port, Albania risks violating its obligations not to encourage, aid or assist in the violation of the Geneva Convention," added Wicken.

The latest conflict in Gaza is considered the deadliest conflict in the long history of Israeli-Palestinian clashes. This conflict began with the surprise attack of Hamas on October 7, 2023 in Israel, including attacks by land, air and sea. This attack led to the killing of nearly 1,200 Israelis, while Hamas also took hundreds of hostages.

Israel responded with a major military offensive, triggering fierce fighting between the two sides, which has added to the suffering of Palestinian civilians. According to the United Nations, this conflict has caused huge casualties, with 43,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza alone.

Ship loaded with 'explosives for Israel' docks in secret at Porto

The Kathrin's journey has been fraught with controversy since it left Vietnam's Hai Phong port last July and traveled around Africa and the Mediterranean before docking at the private fuel port in Durres this Thursday.

On August 24, Namibian authorities revoked a previously granted permit for the ship to dock at the country's main port over suspicions that the cargo would contribute to war crimes in Gaza.

At the end of September, Malta also refused to accept the ship in its territorial waters after demands received from its board for a change of crew and supply of food.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, earlier called on the Maltese government to stop the ship's progress, amid concerns that the cargo of explosives could be suspected of being used in Israeli military operations.

But on this sunny morning at the Multi Buoy Mooring in Porto Romano, the only concern seemed to be the presence of BIRN journalists.

The "Multi Buoy Mooring" port is owned through a concession contract with the Albanian government by the hydrocarbon companies "Kastrati" and "Europetrol Group".

On the hill that rises a few meters above the port, two young men in dark civilian clothes introduced themselves as employees of the State Police and asked these reporters not to photograph the ship, claiming that "it is not allowed". Other people who introduced themselves as "bosses" also tried to stop the photographing of the ship.

The Albanian government did not respond to BIRN's questions about the ship's permission and the accusations of violation of international conventions until the publication of this article./ BIRN