BDS Movement Thanks Antigua and Barbuda for Banning Military Shipments to Conflict Zones Under Its Flag

STATEMENT

The HC Opal, a vessel still sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda and believed to be carrying military supplies, including explosives and rocket parts and fuses, destined for use by Israel in its ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in the illegally occupied Gaza Strip, is in the eastern Mediterranean.

After it was alerted to the cargo on board the HC Opal, Antigua and Barbuda issued a directive confirming that it is “strictly prohibited for any vessel registered under the Antigua & Barbuda flag to carry arms, ammunition, or other military equipment intended for delivery to, or use in, a conflict zone” and that a vessel in “breach of this prohibition is liable to be detained at the request of the Administration in a foreign port for removal of prohibited cargo, at the owners expense.” Antigua & Barbuda said in such cases it will also deflag the vessel and take other legal action.

Since Antigua and Barbuda issued its directive the HC Opal has turned off its AIS. This “going dark” is in violation of the obligations of vessels of its size under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. The last AIS signals have shown the vessel entering the main traffic lane towards Israeli ports, which captains would generally avoid if they weren’t headed for these ports.

Mahmoud Nawaja’a, general coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee, the largest coalition of Palestinian civil society:

“The BDS movement applauds the unequivocal position taken by Antigua and Barbuda upholding its legal obligations under international law. We remain concerned and ask Antigua and Barbuda to do their best to stop the vessel from delivering the illegal military materiel it is credibly suspected of carrying.

“It is fundamental for accountability that the public in the Caribbean as well as the Palestinian people are duly informed about the outcomes of the investigation of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) regarding the cargo, as well as the corporations involved, including the exporter and the importer. Legal action also has to be taken against the captain of HC Opal, the vessel’s owner International Maritime Management (Imm) and the vessel’s operator Ocean 7 Project.”