Spain’s government has been outspoken about the need to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, with Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister, criticising what he calls Israel’s “indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force” in its war against Hamas.
Mr Sánchez has said that the EU should revise its association agreement with Israel, in light of possible human rights abuses in Gaza, as his government prepares to announce its decision to recognise the state of Palestine – a move expected to happen next week.
Members of Sumar, the Left-wing alliance and junior member in Mr Sánchez’s Socialist-led coalition, had been pressing the government to bar entry of another ship into Cartagena – claiming that it was also carrying weapons bound for Israel.
However, Óscar Puente, the minister of transport, said that the Borkum was transporting military material to the Czech Republic, not Israel.
On Friday, the company that owns the Borkum – which, like the Marianne Danica, was heading to Spain from the Indian port of Chennai – announced that the ship would not be docking in Cartagena.
Íñigo Errejón, Sumar’s parliamentary spokesman, said the Borkum’s decision was a “victory” for the movement against the “genocide” taking place in Gaza.