Did Morocco host a ship bound for Israel carrying weapons?

A cargo ship's stop at Morocco's Tangier Med port last week has sparked public outcry amid suspicions it was transporting weapons bound for Israel.  

Here's what happened:  

The controversy began after pro-Palestine Spanish activists noticed two US-flagged Maersk ships—Maersk Denver, which departed New York on 31 October, and Maersk Saltair, which left a few days later—bypassing Spanish ports.  

Maersk Line, Limited, a subsidiary of Danish Maersk, operates US-flagged, US-crewed ships under US government subsidy. A significant portion of its cargo consists of government-owned goods and equipment, according to the Maritime Executive, a publication specialised in maritime industry.

Last week, Spain's foreign ministry told the press the two Maersk ships "will not stop in Spain" following pressure from activists and lawmakers. It also pledged to investigate claims that Maersk vessels had previously been allowed to dock while transporting military equipment.  

Maersk confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Spanish authorities denied Maersk Denver docking privileges in Algeciras during its current voyage from New York to the Middle East.  

"To gain clarity for future operations, we have consulted the Spanish authorities to understand why the entry was denied for cargo no different than previous shipments that have routinely been transshipped through this port," a Maersk spokesperson told AFP, emphasising that the company carries only legal goods and no military weapons or ammunition.  

Why is Maersk suspected of carrying weapons?  

Following Spain's decision, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement urged Morocco to follow suit, citing suspicions the ships were transporting illegal military shipments for Israel.  

"The Maersk Denver is part of the Maersk fleet implicated in shipping US military supplies to Israel and is therefore reasonably suspected of carrying illegal military cargo destined for Israel", said the pro-Palestine movement on 8 November.

The claim was based on an investigation by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which alleged that between September 2023 and September 2024, A.P. Moller-Maersk shipped millions of pounds of military goods to the Israeli military. The shipments reportedly included hulls, engines, and specialised parts for armoured personnel carriers, tactical vehicles, aircraft, and projectile systems.  

Another Maersk ship stopped in Morocco  

Despite protests from BDS Morocco and other local groups, the Maersk Denver docked in Tangier Med on Saturday, 9 November, and departed the following day.

Activists in Morocco protested on Sunday as they claimed the ship, after unloading cargo, was bound for Haifa, Israel. However, its AIS signal and published schedule indicated Oman as its next destination.  

A source at Tangier Med denied to local media the circulating reports, confirming the vessel was civilian and had primarily unloaded food products before continuing toward Salalah, Oman.  

"We have sources that confirm that Nysted, another Maersk ship, arrived to Tangier yesterday and loaded the goods Denver unloaded in the Moroccan port," said spokesperson of BDS Morocco to The New Arab. 

Sailing under Hong Kong flag, Nysted AIS signal and published schedule shows its stop in Tangier last night and its final destination as Haifa. 

"When we say military cargo. It can be trucks, armoured personnel carriers or anything dedicated to the Israeli military, not necessary weapons," added BDS Morocco in a statement to TNA.

Meanwhile, a third Maersk ship, Maersk Seletar, is scheduled to arrive in Algeciras on 14 or 15 November. Its final destination is unknown.

On 11 November, BDS international movement warned that more ships might reroute to Portugal or Morocco amid Spain's refusal. It also urged civil society in both countries to take action.  

"We call on workers in Moroccan ports to boycott providing those ships with necessary needs," added BDS Morocco in a post on Instagram.

Moroccan opposition urges investigation 

This is not the first time Morocco has faced scrutiny over ships linked to Israel during the Gaza war.

In June, the Israeli naval vessel INS Komemiyut made a technical stop at Tangier Med port to refuel and restock supplies for its crew of naval combat soldiers, according to Moroccan media outlet Le Desk. Rabat didn't comment on the incident at the time.

Now, Morocco's opposition Justice and Development Party (PJD) is calling for an investigation into the two cases to determine whether the ships were involved in arms transfers to Israel.  

"We call on the government to reveal the truth to citizens, communicate with them regarding the circulating news, and take full responsibility," added former PM Abdelillah Benkirane, head of PJD, in a press conference on Monday.

On 4 November, Morocco joined more than 50 nations in signing a letter to the UN Secretary-General demanding "immediate steps to halt the provision of arms, munitions, and related equipment to Israel, the occupying power."

However, the North African Kingdom continues to maintain ties with Israel despite rising public and political calls to halt the normalisation accord Rabat signed with Israel under US auspices in 2020.