Madrid, Spain has blocked a Denmark-flagged ship loaded with nearly 27 tonnes of explosive materials from docking at its ports. The vessel, which originated from Chennai, India, was en route to Haifa, Israel, but was denied entry as part of Spain’s broader policy against arming conflict zones.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the cargo ship Marianne Danica left Chennai on April 8 and its journey was halted by Spanish authorities due to concerns over escalating military tensions in the Middle East. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, speaking in Brussels, emphasized that this action reflects a new, stringent approach by Spain to prevent any shipments of arms to Israel that attempt to use Spanish ports.

Albares highlighted that this measure was taken for the first time due to the unique circumstance of detecting such a shipment headed to Israel. He reiterated Spain’s stance that “the Middle East does not need more weapons, it needs more peace,” signaling a firm policy against facilitating the transport of military materials to the region.

The decision was lauded by Amnesty International Spain, which praised the Spanish government’s commitment to the Tratado on Arms Trade and national law, emphasizing the importance of supporting peace efforts over military interventions. This move is part of a broader European response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with Spain and Belgium taking notable steps by suspending arms export licenses to Israel amidst increasing civilian casualties.