Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down Maersk HQ entrance demanding end to weapons transfers to Israel

SHAH ALAM - Nearly 1,000 pro-Palestinian activists protested outside Maersk's Copenhagen headquarters on Feb 24, demanding it cut ties with Israel's military supply chain.

Among those arrested was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who joined the demonstration organised under the "Mask Off Maersk" campaign.

Danish police responded forcefully, deploying batons and tear gas to disperse protesters who had blocked the entrance for over four hours.

"We are here to demand that Maersk must stop all the transportation of weapons and weapon components to Israel," Thunberg said in a video shared online.

She further called on the company to "terminate all contracts and investment that supports the genocide and occupation of Palestine."

Thunberg, widely known for her climate activism, has increasingly participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

The protest was part of a broader campaign spearheaded by the Palestinian Youth Movement, targeting Maersk for its role in shipping military-related equipment from the United States (US) to Israel.

A statement from the organisers read: Today (Feb 25) in Copenhagen, 800 people from all over Europe shut down the main Maersk HQ for the day as part of the CRAC Camp under the slogan "Cut Ties from Genocide."

Activists also referenced past victories, such as Spain’s decision in November 2024 to block two Maersk vessels carrying military cargo bound for Israel from docking at the Port of Algeciras.

Maersk, however, refuted claims that it was transporting weapons to Israel, insisting that the shipments were strictly "military-related equipment" sent under the US-Israel security cooperation programme.

"The cargo has been screened and complies with applicable laws," a Maersk spokesperson said, dismissing accusations that the company was directly supplying weapons.

Meanwhile, Danish police defended their actions, clarifying that officers had attempted to resolve the situation peacefully before resorting to force.

"We tried using dialogue to get the protesters to leave the area—it is a private area. And in the end, the dialogue stopped and then we had to use the necessary means to remove the protesters," a police spokesperson said.

The arrests of Thunberg and 19 others highlighted the growing wave of global protests against Western military support for Israel.

With mounting pressure from activists and escalating confrontations with law enforcement, the controversy surrounding Maersk’s role in military shipments is unlikely to fade anytime soon.