EXCLUSIVE: Israeli shipping company breaks silence about pro-Palestine jetski blockade in Port Botany and busts myth about what they were really carrying

The shipping company targeted in Saturday’s jet ski blockade in Sydney’s Port Botany has denied claims they were weapons Israel could use in Gaza.

A flotilla of flag-waving pro-Palestinian protesters in boats and jet skis confronted the 13,000-ton cargo ship Contship Dax as it approached the container terminal for docking and unloading.

Some activists had claimed that the ship would be carrying weapons to be shipped to the Middle East for Israeli forces to use against Hamas in Gaza.

But on Tuesday, Israel-based operator Zim Integrated Shipping dismissed the claims, saying it was simply making a regular flight between Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

“The ships carry a variety of Asian consumer products such as white goods, textiles and food,” a spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia.

“The ship is not carrying any weapons loads.”

The large-scale protest on the water saw the ship successfully leave the port and instead sail to Melbourne, where it arrived on Monday.

Rumors of arms smuggling spread after Greens leader David Shoebridge told the Senate last week that Australia had dozens of secret arms export deals with Israel.

“Tomorrow there will be a blockade at Botany to prevent WMD (weapons of mass destruction) destined for Palestine,” one social media user wrote.

Drill rap star and alleged Alameddine drug gang associate Ali ‘Ay Huncho’ Younes posted footage of the blockade on TikTok, where followers repeated the claim about fake weapons.

“Taxpayer money is used to supply weapons,” one wrote.

Another added: “Your guns are funded by Australia in our port, that’s why they did what they did.”

Several other posts promoting the Port Botany protest emphasized that Zim was an “Israeli arms transporter.”

Another falsely claimed after the protest: “Australians blocked an Israeli-owned cargo ship allegedly carrying weapons to Israel.”

The demonstration came after defense officials told a Senate hearing that Australia had signed 52 secret arms export deals to Israel this year, and 322 since 2017.

The government insists Australian arms export deals to Israel cover non-lethal equipment including radios, body armor, software and vehicle parts.

But Senator Shoebridge insisted: ‘Few people know that Australia has one of the most secretive, unexplained arms export systems in the world.

“The Australian government approves hundreds of military sales to Israel and we have no idea what the weapons are or how they are used.

“Our government doesn’t tell us who we’re exporting weapons to; doesn’t tell us what the weapons are; doesn’t tell us who benefits from gun sales here in Australia.

‘Even the US has more transparency about arms sales than Australia. Time to tell the truth.’

The new details – revealed by the Greens senator in a speech to the Senate on November 7 – led to illegitimate speculation that the Contship Dax would pick up weapons for Israel when it docked on November 11.

Palestinian and Australian human rights groups took legal action in the Federal Court last week in a bid to gain access to more details about Australia’s arms deals.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Al-Haq and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights joined the Australian Center for International Justice in taking legal action.

It is seeking details of all Australian arms deals with Israel since the Hamas offensive began on October 7, 2023.

However, Defense Minister Richard Marles insisted: “Israel did not ask Australia for weapons and we have not supplied any.”

Saturday’s jet ski blockade came three days after more pro-Palestinian activists stopped trucks loading cargo onto another Zim ship in Melbourne.

Campaigners claim operator Zim has previously shipped weapons to Israel, but the company insisted Contship Dax – which operates under the Cypriot flag – played no role.

Ship records show the ship was on regular regular shuttle runs between Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand when the protest blocked it.

“The vessel operates on the Asia-Australia trade, serving the Australian market and Australian customers and consumers, bringing essential goods from Asia to Australian markets,” a Zim spokesperson said.

“In recent weeks, some Zim ships have been targeted by pro-Hamas protesters in Australia.

“These actions, designed to disrupt our commercial activities, are both illegal and misleading and impact local markets.

“We strongly condemn these incidents and are working with local authorities to prevent further occurrences.”