Israeli-flagged ships banned from entering Malaysian ports

The Malaysian government is barring all Israel-linked and -flagged ships from entering its ports, according to an official statement.

PHOTO: ZIM's container vessel Zim Shekou. Getty Images

The directives came from the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office in response to Israel’s ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has sparked a global debate on humanitarian principles.

Malaysia is also banning vessels from docking in its ports if they are en route to Israel.

The country has further singled out Israel’s largest container shipping company ZIM and imposed a permanent ban from loading its cargoes in any Malaysian port with immediate effect, according to the statement.  

Israel-registered ships got permission to dock in Malaysian ports in 2002, according to the statement. “However, the Government today decided to cancel all past Cabinet decisions,” it read.

These sanctions will not have any effect on Malaysia’s trade activities as the country has no diplomatic ties with Israel, the statement clarified.

“These sanctions are a response to Israel's actions that ignore basic humanitarian principles and violate international law through the ongoing massacre and brutality against Palestinians,” Ibrahim said.

Israel launched a military action in the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the unprecedented terror attacks by Palestine-based Hamas militants on 7 October.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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