A significant protest took place at the port of Cartagena on Sunday, with dozens of people demonstrating against the shipment of weapons and energy to Israel. Organised by the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine, the protest featured the slogan ‘No Port for Genocide. Complete Embargo on Weapons and Fuels’ and occurred simultaneously in several other ports including Algeciras, Valencia, Ceuta, and Barcelona.

Participants in Cartagena included the IU-Verdes party from the Region of Murcia, aligning with concerns raised by their spokesperson Enrique Santiago. He recently filed a complaint before the National Court regarding the imminent arrival of the ship ‘Chemical Master’, which reportedly carries one thousand five hundred tonnes of phosphoric acid from occupied Palestinian territories, intended for a subsidiary of the multinational ICL based in Cartagena.

Protesters not only called for restricting access to any vessels transporting arms or energy to Israel, but also demanded the retention and investigation of all ships allegedly involved in genocide attempting to dock at Spanish ports. During the demonstration, regional coordinator of IU-Verdes, Penélope Luna, stated that Spain has both a moral and legal obligation to prevent its ports from facilitating operations that benefit those who bomb Gaza.

Luna further emphasised that while humanitarian aid is being discussed, contracts linked to Palestinian blood continue to be permitted. She urged the government to genuinely support the Palestinian cause by closing the ports to these vessels.