A growing sense of public opposition to involvement in Israel's war on Gaza has led to a remarkable act of defiance at Morocco’s Port of Tangier. Eight workers from the international shipping giant Maersk’s branch at Tangier Med 2 port have resigned in protest against the company’s role in transporting American arms to Israel.

The workers took this drastic step after Maersk management pressured them to unload cargo from an American ship that is set to head to Israeli ports within days. Sources have revealed that the company specifically selected veteran workers for the task, possibly as a way to either manipulate or dispose of them later, given the lack of union protection.

This incident highlights the growing role of the Port of Tangier as a key transit point for arms shipments to Israel since last November, following Spain’s refusal to allow such cargo through its ports due to public outcry. The revelation has sparked anger across Morocco and the Arab world, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli crimes in Gaza, raising questions about the complicity of international companies in fuelling the war machine.

The resignation of these workers has sent a strong moral message, prompting speculation that other companies may now reconsider their involvement in arms shipments to Israel. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement in Morocco has called for the closure of Moroccan ports to Maersk vessels, echoing Spain’s earlier decision to block Maersk ships loaded with military equipment from docking.

Documents obtained by the British website “Declassified” have confirmed that Maersk has facilitated the transfer of military components to Israel, including fighter jet parts, with stopovers in both Spain and Morocco. One such ship, the “NYSTED MAERSK,” was docked in Tangier to transfer military cargo from the “MAERSK DENVER,” a violation of international law and humanitarian treaties, according to the BDS movement.

Despite Maersk's repeated denials of direct arms shipments, human rights advocates insist that these shipments likely contain military vehicles and spare parts, under contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. As Palestinians in Gaza continue to suffer devastating losses in a war that shows no sign of abating, the workers' resignation has become a potent symbol of moral resistance, sparking wider calls for accountability and action against companies complicit in the occupation’s crimes.