ME clarifies that the Portuguese ship transporting weapons to Israel does not exist

The Foreign Minister clarified this Thursday that the Portuguese ship transporting weapons to Israel does not exist, following contacts established by the government to investigate a complaint filed by the Left Bloc.

“This is not a Portuguese ship, but it has a Portuguese flag. It is a German ship,” Paulo Rangel said in Brussels at a ministerial meeting that was still ongoing when the government official spoke to reporters.

The minister added that the government had contacted the ship to seek clarification on the complaint filed by Bloco de Esquerda and a non-governmental organization (NGO), and said it could guarantee that the ship was “not heading to Israel” and was destined for two ports, in Slovenia and Montenegro.

“It contains explosives, not weapons,” the official said.

Paulo Rangel also rejected any accusations of complacency over Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, warning that the government he is part of was “the first to ban arms exports to Israel.”

Under the previous government, led by Socialist António Costa, “there were no exports.” [de armamento]but did not forbid it.”

As for the vessel in question, “everything was properly reported, both as to contents and destination,” and all information provided was “accompanied by documentation.”

This week, the Left Bloc and the PCP, through the Assembly of the Republic, questioned the Minister of State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs over suspicions that a ship flying the Portuguese flag was transporting weapons to Israel.

Both sides want the government to ensure that no Portuguese-flagged ship can be involved in transporting any military material to Israel, and are asking the government what measures will be taken to monitor a suspicious ship.