Dutch vessel shipping artillery ammunition and mortar bombs through the Mediterranean destined for use by genocidal Israel to reach Haifa today.
The Rijnvliet vessel (IMO 9996898), sailing under Dutch flag, is reportedly transporting artillery ammunition and mortar bomb components to Haifa today, for use in Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, its illegal occupation, and its wars of aggression across the region. The Rijnvliet is in clear violation of international law, particularly the Genocide Convention.
The Dutch-registered cargo ship is operated by Rotterdam-based Hartel Shipping and Chartering and insured by NorthStandard EU DAC (British/Irish). It left the US Port of Wilmington on 16 February carrying bomb shells from Elbit Systems in South Carolina and brass ammunition cartridge cases from the Wieland Group in New York.
These illegal maritime transfers rely on the complicity of flag states, shipping companies, port authorities, and commercial infrastructure including insurers that knowingly facilitate the transport of military materiel used in Israel’s genocide.
On Friday, 13 March 2026, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) put the insurer, NorthStandard, on notice, warning that if it continued to insure the voyage it could be exposed to criminal, regulatory and civil liability for facilitating international crimes.
Under international law, states and corporations are obligated not to aid, assist, or profit from international crimes and to take decisive action to stop them. The continued transport of military materiel to Israel constitutes a clear violation of these obligations.
The shipment comes as the Netherlands joins South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice, highlighting the need for States to match their public positions with enforcement at sea.
Maren Mantovani, International secretariat member of the Palestinian-led BDS movement stated:
“The BDS movement calls for grassroots and civil society pressure from groups and activists to demand the Netherlands take immediate action to stop the shipment if possible and to commit to stopping future illegal shipments under the Dutch flag. We must maintain pressure on governments to stop their complicity in Israel’s genocide and to impose legal, targeted sanctions on Israel, including a comprehensive military and energy embargo.
The so-called “ceasefire” has not ended Israel’s killings of Palestinians and aggression against neighbouring peoples. The genocide in Gaza is ongoing. Only accountability and targeted sanctions will stop Israel’s crimes.
“We urge civil society organizations, legal experts, and grassroots movements to intensify pressure on all actors in the maritime supply chain to enforce international law and prevent illegal transfers that contribute to the genocide.”
Layla Hazaineh, Arab World Coordinator for the Progressive International, said:
“Genocide does not happen in isolation. It depends on logistics — ships, insurers, ports, and governments willing to look the other way. If the Netherlands is serious about its commitments before the International Court of Justice, it must make good on them by stopping vessels under its flag from delivering the weapons that sustain these crimes.”
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Background:
For more on the legal obligations of corporations in front of Israel’s genocide, see Dr Irene Pietropaoli study “Obligations of Third States and Corporations to Prevent and Punish Genocide in Gaza”.
For more on the legal obligations of flag, port and coastal states according to the Law of the Sea, see the ASCOMARE legal opinion and implementation guidelines.