Members of the (MUA), together with community activists, rallied outside Danish shipping giant Maersk鈥檚 office in Gadigal Country/Sydney on March 18, demanding it support resolutions at its annual general meeting to stop sending weapons to Israel.
It was part of the international day of action calling on Maersk to stop profiting from Israel鈥檚 war on Gaza.
Protests were held around Europe the same day, including a rally of more than 1000 in Copenhagen attended by prominent climate and peace activist Greta Thunberg, where about 20 people were arrested.
The MUA said Maersk, the second-largest global shipping and logistics company, is one of Israel鈥檚 main partners in its genocide of the Palestinian people.
In a letter presented to Maersk executives, the MUA said research showed Maersk has carried at least 2000 shipments of arms from the US to Israel since 2023.
鈥淭his is unequivocal, active profiteering from and complicity in this genocidal occupation,鈥 the MUA said. The union is calling for a permanent ceasefire and immediate steps towards a just peace for Palestinians.
Maersk shipped thousands of tonnes of military goods from the US to the Israeli military from September 2023 to September last year, according to the . 聽
They included hulls, engines and specialised parts for armoured personnel carriers, as well as tactical vehicles and aircraft and projectile systems.
The protest was organised by Sydney Palestine Actions, the MUA and Inner West for Palestine, one of the many groups that has signed an calling on Maersk shareholders to demand it disclose its human rights practices.
Paja from Sydney Palestine Actions called on superannuation funds and other Maersk shareholders to vote for parties supporting an end to ties with apartheid Israel.
Maersk鈥檚 board opposed the resolutions to boycott trade with Israel and the motions lost. AFP reported on March 19: 鈥淭he resolution submitted by a shareholder聽would have 聽human rights risk assessments it carried out ahead of the transfers, and a second [resolution] to halt arms transfers to Israel.鈥
The resolutions were supported by more than 70 NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam Denmark and ActionAid.
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