The Left Bloc warned on Thursday that Portugal risks violating international law by flying its national flag on a ship transporting materials to manufacture weapons in Israel. They accused the government of passivity and cowardice.
Concerns Raised by Mariana Mortágua
Mariana Mortágua, speaking to journalists at the Assembly of the Republic, warned:
Portugal cannot be an accomplice to this crime, it cannot be an accomplice to genocide, and that is what it is doing and that is what it could be accused of if it does not remove the flag from the Portuguese ship.
The Bloco member was responding to an interview by the Minister of Foreign Affairs with the newspaper Público and radio station Renascença.
Read More About: Foreign Population in Portugal Increases By 33.6% In 2023
Paulo Rangel stated in the interview that the Portuguese-flagged ship carrying explosives was headed to Montenegro and Slovenia. In addition, he noted that the materials on board are intended for arms factories in Poland, Slovakia, and Israel.
Clarification from the Government
At the end of August, following questions from the BE and PCP, the Minister of Foreign Affairs clarified the situation. He stated that the cargo ship Kathrin, which is carrying explosives, flies the Portuguese flag but is German-owned. Additionally, he confirmed that the ship would not be heading to Israel.
The government official said at the time that:
It transports explosives, not weapon.
Mariana Mortágua stated that, despite Paulo Rangel confirming the information previously raised by the Bloco de Esquerda, it seems the Portuguese Government will do nothing to stop this arms shipment. In addition, she warned saying:
This passivity on the part of the Portuguese Government implies a violation of the conventions that Portugal signs and subscribes to for the prevention of genocide, as well as all the determinations of the International Justice regarding the risk of genocide in Palestine by the Israeli Government and the Israeli army.
Calls for Action from the BE
The BE coordinator argued that the removal of the flag is a political and legal decision. She stressed that Portugal is in breach or may be in breach of international law by allowing this complicity with genocide. She added:
There is no justification under international law and human rights for not removing the flag and any excuse is nothing more than that.
The Bloco member argued that those who know who sends the bombs are just as complicit as those who provide the materials to make the bombs. Furthermore, she said that:
I think we should demand from the Portuguese government fewer apologies, fewer hesitations, less cowardice, less hypocrisy in its actions, more respect for international law, more respect for human rights, more respect for the lives of those who are dying in their thousands in Palestine and, while we’re at it, more respect for the conventions of the United Nations (UN), for the UN Secretary-General [António Guterres] and for all those who have defended Palestinian rights in this massacre.
Upcoming Parliamentary Hearing
Paulo Rangel has scheduled a hearing on this topic at the parliamentary committee for Foreign Affairs on October 15, a meeting that Mariana Mortágua believes now makes more sense.
However, the Bloco de Esquerda party is calling for a government official to explain several points. They want to know why the situation was downplayed and why it was claimed that there were no weapons involved.
Additionally, they are questioning why it was stated that the shipment was not destined for Israel. They also seek clarification on why the initially released information was confirmed.
The BE party shared its stance and said:
The Portuguese government must be confronted with the possibility of Portugal being taken to an international court for complicity in genocide. It is serious, the situation in which the Portuguese government is placing the country is serious, Portugal could be confronted with complicity in genocide and that is a stain that we do not want on our country, certainly not on our name.
Actions Taken by the BE
The BE has submitted a statement to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR). In this statement, they request that the Public Prosecutor’s Office monitor and prevent Portugal from facing international accusations of complicity in genocide.
Additionally, they have launched a public petition to have the Portuguese flag removed from a specific ship. This petition has already gathered 2,500 signatures, according to an official source from the party.
