{"id":99499,"date":"2025-07-31T19:50:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/?p=99499"},"modified":"2025-07-31T19:52:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:52:25","slug":"durban-docks-global-shock-block-the-boat-sends-a-message-to-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/durban-docks-global-shock-block-the-boat-sends-a-message-to-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Durban Docks, Global Shock: Block the Boat Sends a Message to Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za<\/a> <\/em>
\n3-minute read<\/em>
\n31 July 2025 | 18:15 CAT<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

\ud83d\udcf8 Protesters paint a massive Palestinian flag with messages reading \u201cSTOP WARS\u201d and \u201cFREE PALESTINE,\u201d reflecting growing resistance.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Latvian-flagged cargo vessel, the MVU Alta Marine, recently docked at the Durban harbour under intense scrutiny, marking a pivotal test for South Africa\u2019s “Block the Boat” movement. While no weapons were found onboard, the ship\u2019s arrival catalysed a wave of local activism, renewed civic pressure, and broader calls for South African ports to remain free of complicity in war crimes.<\/p>\n

According to Nasiha Soomar, Executive Member of the South African Palestine Movement (SAPM), the inspection was thorough and credible. \u201cThe ship came from Chennai, India, and docked at two other African ports before Durban,\u201d she told Radio Islam International<\/em>. \u201cGovernment agencies conducted a full inspection before it entered our harbour, and we are confident that no arms were aboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, the absence of weapons did not diminish the symbolic and strategic value of the moment. \u201cThis was a test run,\u201d said Soomar. \u201cIt gave us the opportunity to engage with port security, customs, and enforcement agencies. We thank them for fulfilling their duty in accordance with both South African and international law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crucially, the movement views this inspection as a rehearsal for future resistance, especially amid rising international concern about arms shipments potentially fuelling Israel\u2019s military campaign. \u201cThere\u2019s urgency,\u201d said Soomar, \u201cbecause Palestinians are facing forced starvation and being targeted while seeking food. We are now better equipped to mobilise.\u201d<\/p>\n

SAPM has vowed to remain alert. \u201cWe know how to act, who to contact, and which channels to activate. Any ship heading into Durban with questionable cargo will be met with resistance,\u201d she said. \u201cSouth African ports must never be used to facilitate war crimes or genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the broader impact, Soomar highlighted the power of civil society amplified by social media. \u201cThe world is watching South Africa. We\u2019ve been contacted by international outlets including the BBC and Middle East Monitor. There are no limits to what we can do if we organise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, the movement calls for greater transparency in port procedures. \u201cWe had to go through several channels to get answers,\u201d she explained. \u201cThat must change. Accountability and justice demand clearer processes for public engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen<\/strong> to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up<\/em><\/a> with Moulana Shuaib Lasanya and Nasiha Soomar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read 31 July 2025 | 18:15 CAT A Latvian-flagged cargo vessel, the MVU Alta Marine, recently docked at the Durban harbour under intense scrutiny, marking a pivotal test for South Africa\u2019s “Block the Boat” movement. While no weapons were found onboard, the ship\u2019s arrival catalysed a wave of local activism, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":99500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,4995,4998],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-south-africa","category-ummah"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Free-Palestine.jpg?fit=1027%2C361&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-pSP","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-22 20:58:12","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}