Berlin lawyers seek court block on German ship's 150-tonne explosives bound for Israel

Human rights lawyers have filed an urgent appeal with Berlin’s Administrative Court seeking to block a 150-tonne shipment of military-grade explosives aboard the German cargo ship, “MV Kathrin”, bound for Israel, Reuters reports.

The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) said, on Wednesday, the action was filed on behalf of three Palestinians from Gaza, arguing that the shipment of primarily RDX explosives could be used in munitions for Israel’s military operations in Gaza, potentially contributing to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In August, Namibian authorities blocked the vessel, which departed from Vietnam’s Hai Phong port, from entering its main harbour, Amnesty International reported.

According to the ELSC, the RDX is intended for Israeli Military Industries, a division of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defence contractor. Elbit Systems was not immediately available for comment.

The “MV Kathrin”, owned by Germany-based Lubeca-Marine, had been denied entry at several African and Mediterranean ports, including in Angola, Slovenia, Montenegro and Malta, the ELSC said, adding that Portuguese authorities recently required the ship to switch to a German flag before it could continue.

Lubeca-Marine and Germany’s Economy Ministry, named in the case, were not immediately available for comment.

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