LONDON: An Indian cargo ship ‘Marianne Danica’ is en route to Israel’s Ashdod Port from India’s Chennai Port to supply around 27 tons of lethal explosive material, including precision munitions and dirty bombs amid ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza.
India’s supply of lethal weaponry to Israel amid ongoing brutalities against Palestinians in Gaza has prompted accusations that India is contributing to the Genocide in Rafah, where millions of Palestinians are in precarious conditions due to Israeli military attacks.
The Marianne Danica’s route has avoided the Red Sea due to the presence of Yemen’s Houthis and opted for a longer journey through the Mediterranean Sea to reach Israel’s Ashdod Port. The supply of lethal explosives and dirty bombs by India to Israel has caused serious concerns and ignited widespread criticism amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The explosives are believed to be destined for use in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Critics argue that India’s supply of weaponry to Israel not only perpetuates the violence in the region but also deepens the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians.
A post on X, formerly Twitter by Open Secrets (@OpenSecrets7Ave) highlighted this issue, stating, “IN IL: Partners in Genocide. Indian Cargo Ship (Marianne Danica – registered Denmark) with 27 Tons of Lethal Ammunition / Explosives is on its way to Ashdod/Israel (from Chennai). Instead of the shorter route via the Red Sea, it took a much longer route – Houthis!”
https://x.com/OpenSecrets7Ave/status/1796964856303677502
https://x.com/opensecrets7ave/status/1796988370389754165?s=48
The supply of arms has reignited discussions about the ethical responsibilities of nations in the global arms trade and their impact on conflicts worldwide.
Social media has promptly reacted to Indian actions, decrying India’s participation in the “genocide” of Palestinians. Spain’s recent refusal to allow the Marianne Danica to dock earlier, citing policies against facilitating arms shipments to Israel, underscores the international community’s concerns about exacerbating the conflict through arms sales.
India’s close relationship with Israel in arms trade has faced heightened scrutiny, particularly as the two countries have engaged in significant military collaborations over the past decade, including joint ventures in drone manufacturing. Some of these drones are alleged to have been used by Israel in the current offensive in Gaza.
Spain’s proactive stance against arms shipments to Israel aligns with its broader efforts to support Palestinian rights and advocate for diplomatic solutions to the conflict. The country has stopped arms sales to Israel in response to previous military actions in Gaza.
The health ministry in Gaza said Sunday that at least 36,439 Palestinian people have been killed in the territory during more than seven months of Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign.
The toll includes at least 60 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 82,627 people have been injured in the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year.
