Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
Pro-Palestinian activists gathered at the Port of Durban late last night to monitor the movement of an Indian cargo ship, the MV Ultamarine, suspected of carrying military cargo bound for Israel.
The BDS movement said it has credible information that the MV Ultramarine is carrying military supplies from India to Israel. It is reportedly carrying 15 containers of “dangerous cargo” for Israel’s ongoing genocide against 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza.
The BDS movement has called on the South African authorities to take “immediate due diligence action, investigate the vessel, and in case the suspicions are confirmed, stop the cargo, withdraw any docking permission and prohibit any servicing.
Pro-Palestinians put out an urgent bulletin on social media platforms for activists to “mobilise immediately” at the port.
In a statement, the BDS movement said: The South African and Palestinian people have a long history of common struggle. “ In the words of Nelson Mandela: “We know all too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.
“In this spirit, we demand the South African authorities take immediate due diligence action, investigate the vessel and, if the suspicions are confirmed, stop the cargo, withdraw any docking permission, and prohibit any servicing.”
South Africa took apartheid Israel to the ICJ under the Genocide Convention and co-hosts the Hague Group of States, which this month reaffirmed its commitment to prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel. Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry those items to Israel.
According to maritime law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea imposes a duty on coastal states to take necessary action within their territorial seas, including interrupting or suspending passage of vessels carrying military supplies or cargo assisting Israel’s illegal occupation, apartheid, and genocide.
It said South Africa is obliged to: Stop or board the vessel; Redirect its passage; Order it to leave the territorial sea; Or employ proportional and legal force. Failure to act may result in accountability under international law.
Our obligations are clear, under international law, South Africa must:
1) Ban access to territorial waters/ports for vessels involved in transferring supplies that aid Israel’s genocidal acts, illegal occupation, or crimes against humanity.
2) Investigate without delay all “vessels of interest” suspected of involvement in such transfers.
3) Disclose cargo bills.
4) Stop illegal cargo.
5) Prohibit docking, anchorage, or territorial access for these vessels.
South Africa is urged to follow Namibia’s example.
In August 2024, Namibia responded to due diligence calls and discovered eight containers of RDX/Hexogen explosives destined for Israel on the MV Kathrin. This led to a global solidarity movement that blocked the cargo delivery for over two months.
“In light of South Africa’s principled support for international law and Palestinian rights, and its long history of struggle against colonialism and apartheid,
South African authorities are urged to: Investigate the MV Ultramarine; Disclose the findings; Prevent weapons transfer to Israel if needed.
The statement added that the MV Ultramarine is part of the “supply line for the world’s first livestreamed genocide”.
