Malaysia Seizes 3 Israeli-Bound Containers as Anwar Pledges to Stop Shipments for Gaza War

The seizures follow an initial detainment of a container for Israeli defence technology firm Elbit Systems, suspected of containing weapons.

Authorities in Malaysia have seized several more Israel-bound shipments at one of thecountry’s biggest ports, according to people familiar with the matter, an apparently new level of scrutiny in a nation where anti-Israeli sentiment runs high. Three containers bound for Ashdod Port south of Tel Aviv were detained at Malaysia’sTanjung Pelepas port in mid-August and to date had not been released as authorities investigate their contents, the people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

The seizures follow an initial detainment of another container on August 7 that originally came from the Philippines, and that was suspected by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency of containing weapons because it was headed to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence technology firm, according to a statement from the agency at the time. Tracking data from Hapag-Lloyd, the container line carrying the cargo, show the shipment still at Tanjung Pelepas.

The other three seizures happened on August 19, the people said. Those containers housed electric bike parts that were being shipped from a Chinese manufacturer, Chongqing Mobimax Technology, according to manifests. Tracking data from the liner carrying those cargoes, A.P. Moller-Maersk, also show them still at the busy transhipment port almost a month later.

A container ship sails from Tanjung Pelepas Port in Johor on June 29. Photo: Reuters. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, commenting on the August 7 seizure, said the Southeast Asian nation would not be a conduit to trade flows that can support or contribute to “the cruelty of the Israeli regime”. Malaysia does not have diplomatic or trade relations with Israel, reflecting its long-standing position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Malaysia’s customs legislation prohibits trade with Israel, but excludes transit goods. The Strategic Trade Act 2010, however, bars transhipment of military, strategic dual-use goods.

“Any suspicious shipment will be subject to inspection and investigation in accordance with Malaysian law. Where a violation is established, decisive action will be taken,” Anwar said on social media on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to the latest seizure.— South China Morning Post