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A call to action for civil society organizations to urge Mediterranean states to prohibit and prevent the docking of all vessels transporting military fuel to Israel—such as the Overseas Santorini and Overseas Suncoast—in strict compliance with their legal obligations
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
No Harbour For Genocide
Block Military Fuel to Israel
We call upon states to prohibit and prevent the docking of vessels carrying military fuel to Israel at any port in the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel is committing grave violations of fundamental principles of international law in Palestine, including ethnic cleansing and genocide, which constitute a crime against international peace and security. In breach of legally binding orders made by the International Court of Justice,i Israel continues its relentless massacre of the Palestinian people.ii
States have a legal obligation to cooperate towards ending such illegalities and prevent genocide by all measures at their disposal. In relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution in April 2024 expressing deep concern at the transfer of jet fuel to Israel to commit violations of international law.iii
We therefore call upon states with ports in the Mediterranean Sea to prohibit and prevent the docking of all vessels carrying military fuel to Israel, including the Overseas Santorini and Overseas Suncoast, in compliance with legal obligations.iv
Overseas Santorini and Overseas Suncoast
Recent investigations have confirmed the ongoing delivery of military fuel, supplied by Valero oil company on behalf of the US government from Corpus Christi, Texas to the port of Ashkelon in Israel.v This military fuel includes kerosene based jet fuel and JP-8 used for Israel’s Air Force F16 and F35 warplanes among others.
These shipments are carried by the tankers Overseas Santorini and Overseas Suncoast every 2 months. For years, these ships have docked at the port of Algeciras, Spain, also calling at Limassol, Cyprus, before arriving at its destination at Ashkelon, Israel.
On 15th July 2024, the Overseas Santorini left the port of Corpus Christi and is scheduled to dock in Algeciras on 30th July 2024,vi although alternative ports in the Mediterranean may be sought.
Our Demands
In compliance with legal obligations to prevent genocide and other international crimes, we call upon governments of all states with ports in the Mediterranean Sea to:
- Prohibit and prevent the transit of all vessels carrying military fuel to Israel through states’ territorial waters, and the anchoring, docking or provisioning of such vessels at ports, including the Overseas Santorini and Overseas Suncoast.
- Investigate any vessel that may be carrying military fuel bound for Israel, and prevent their departure through impounding such vessels and/or confiscating their cargo.
In addition, we call upon:
- Members of Parliament: Pressure governments and relevant authorities to execute the above demand including by conducting relevant enquiries and scrutinising executive decisions relating to the use of ports for delivering military fuel to Israel.
- Trade Unions: Call for port workers to refuse services that would enable vessels carrying military fuel to Israel to dock, including provision of bunker fuel, lube oils and sludge discharge, and provide necessary protections for such workers.
- Civil society: Mobilise in support of this call by amplifying these demands,
disseminating information and resources, lobbying relevant authorities and urging all vessel supply companies and shipping agents to withhold services to vessels carrying military fuel to Israel.
- Media: Draw attention to and denounce the practice of ports being used to enable the delivery of military fuel to Israel in breach of international law.
Date: 16th July 2024
For further information please contact:
Global Energy Embargo for Palestine
MILITARY FUEL EMBARGO AGAINST ISRAEL 🚨
— Global Energy Embargo for Palestine (@palenembargo) July 20, 2024
Overseas Santorini 🛳️carries military fuel from USA to Israel to bomb Gaza. It's due to transit the Mediterranean from 29th July.
We call upon states, trade unions & social movements to stop it from docking. #NoHarbourforGenocide ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/M4zVPjbAG0
i International Court of Justice orders made on 26th January and 24th May 2024 in Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).
ii Since October, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 16,000 children, while experts in global health have estimated a death toll of up to 186,000. See ‘Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential’, Lancet, 5th July 2024
iii Human Rights Council Resolution (A_HRC_55_L.30), 5th April 2024: “Expressing deep concern that the sale, diversion and transfers of arms and jet fuel increase the ability of Israel, the occupying Power, to commit serious violations, including attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructures, disregard international law and seriously undermine the enjoyment of human rights”
iv See ‘Shipments of Death’, Shahd Hammouri, Lecturer in Law, Kent Law School, 15th July 2024
v See ‘Fuelling the Flames in Gaza’, SOMO, Netherlands, May 2024, ‘Israeli crude and fuel supply chains’, Oil Change International (provided by Data Desk), 8th March 2024
vi See Vessel Finder tracking of Overseas Santorini
