The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) has called on Cypriot authorities to inspect a vessel allegedly carrying military supplies to Israel, citing international law obligations regarding the prevention of genocide and to avoid complicity with Israeli war crimes.
The organisation said the HC Opal, sailing under Antigua and Barbuda flag, was en route to Larnaca port carrying what it described as military equipment destined for Israel’s operations in Gaza.
The Cyprus branch of the BDS movement claimed the vessel carries 23 containers of military equipment including explosives, rocket parts and fuses.
“All of this cargo is in fact raw material for making artillery shells and air-to-surface bombs,” said Dr Shir Hever, Military Embargo Campaign Coordinator with the BDS movement, according to the organisation’s statement. “A single MK84 bomb can level a whole residential building, killing entire Palestinian families,” he added.
The group cited International Court of Justice provisional measures against Israel and the Genocide Convention as legal grounds for intervention.
“Coastal states are obliged to undertake any necessary action within their territorial waters, including interrupting or suspending passage against vessels carrying military supplies or other cargo that facilitates Israel in its illegal occupation, apartheid, genocide, and other violations of human rights, as well as of fundamental principles of international law,” BDS Cyprus stated.
The organisation suggested authorities could stop and board the vessel, redirect its passage, order departure from territorial waters, or employ proportionate legal force if warranted.
Breaking:
— BDS movement (@BDSmovement) May 29, 2025
The ship HC Opal is currently in the Mediterranean transporting military materiel for Israel’s Gaza genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians.#BlockTheBoat
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What is the BDS movement
The global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement was launched in 2005 by 170 Palestinian civil society organisations.
Inspired by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, BDS seeks to influence public opinion and policy through grassroots activism, to apply nonviolent economic and political pressure on Israel.
Specifically, it seeks to influence Israel to meet what it describes as Israel’s obligations under international law, defined as withdrawal from occupied territories, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and respecting Palestinian refugees’ right to return.
