Dozens of people continued protesting till 10 PM in Lisbon against the docking of a ship they accuse of being involved in the genocide route in Gaza and playing a key role in supplying arms to Israel. The protest in front of the Port of Lisbon began at 8:00 PM, coinciding with the scheduled arrival of the ship Nysted MAERSK.
Read More About: Portugal Launches Campaign For 2027-2028 UN Security Council Seat
Fabian Figueiredo, the parliamentary leader of the Left Bloc (BE) also joined the protest and accused the ship of being involved in the genocide route and playing a central role in the American arming of Israel.
BDS Campaign’s Accusation and Left Bloc’s Criticism
The complaint was raised by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel, which claims that the ship has been involved in transporting hundreds of illegal arms shipments to Israel in recent months, with the route passing through the Spanish port of Algeciras.
Fabian Figueiredo said that:
“This ship crossed the Mediterranean 400 times to carry weapons that promote and participate in the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Justification From The Government
The protest today saw a diverse turnout, including people from young university students and even retirees. In response, the Government justified allowing the ship to dock by stating that the vessel was not carrying weapons. The government official said in a statement:
“We have been reconfirmed that no military cargo, weapons, or explosives are being transported.”
However, the Left Bloc believes that the statements are an attempt to change the subject. They argue that the accusation is not about the cargo the ship is carrying today but about its involvement in a network of cargo ships that covertly transport weapons to Israel.
The only doubt is whether the Government was deceived or chose to be deceived, argued Fabian Figueiredo. He emphasized that Portuguese ports should not be used as a platform for genocide in Gaza.
Furthermore, Sandra Machado from PUSP – Plataforma Unitária de Solidariedade, a Palestinian accused:
“By allowing the ship to dock in Lisbon, “Portugal is being complicit.”
Ongoing Protest and Calls for Government Action
By 8:30 pm, information was circulating that the ship had indeed arrived at the Port of Lisbon. However, this did not discourage the protesters, who explained that the protest also aimed to pressure the government to prohibit the passage of ships carrying weapons to Israel through Portuguese waters.
The Bloco leader expressed regret that Portugal had not taken a similar stance to Spain; he added:
“This ship docks in Lisbon because it was not authorized to dock in Spain. Since May Spain has prohibited the docking of any ship bound for Israel that has weapons.”
The protesters remained in protest, shouting slogans and waving Palestinian flags till it was 10 PM. The BE leader further added:
“This ship is part of a scheme to circumvent the rules of several European states that have prohibited their ports and territories from being weapons platforms for Israel.”
He expressed regret that Portugal chose to align itself with countries complicit in the conflict in Palestine.
Today’s protest also saw participation from Palestina em Português, the Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, and several students who have been involved in actions supporting the Palestinian people over the past year.
Also Read: House Prices In Lisbon City Rose By 5.6% As It Becomes 11th City Where Prices For Luxury Houses Rise
