Tanker carrying jet fuel for Israel must not dock in Gibraltar, say MPs

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/29/tanker-carrying-jet-fuel-for-israel-must-not-dock-in-gibraltar-say-mps

Tanker carrying jet fuel for Israel must not dock in Gibraltar, say MPs

Campaigners say overseas territory will be complicit in breach of international law if US vessel stops there

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Mon 29 Jul 2024 13.10 EDT

There is an overwhelming case for the UK to intervene to stop a US oil tanker carrying 300,000 barrels of jet fuel for use by Israel in Gaza from docking in Gibraltar, according to a letter from a cross-party group of MPs addressed to David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary.

Protests in Spain led by trade unionists and political activists have already resulted in the owners of the Overseas Santorini abandoning plans to dock in the Spanish port of Algeciras. According to Marine Traffic, the ship is now destined to reach Gibraltar at 3pm UK time on Tuesday.

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The letter said: “The jet fuel will be unloaded and used to fuel the Israeli air force’s F16 and F35 that drop bombs on the people of Gaza. The 300,000 barrels of fuel are sufficient for around 12,000 F-16 refuellings.”

It added: “The case to prevent Gibraltar’s facilities from being complicit in Israel’s breaches of international law are overwhelming. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault.””

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