The "united left" bloc in the European Parliament called on the Presidency of the Parliament to provide clarifications regarding ships that arrive in Spanish ports to ship weapons and ammunition to Saudi Arabia for use in the Yemen war, which is in contradiction with European and international laws, and the bloc revealed tactics used by a Saudi company to camouflage the shipments.

The claim of this bloc includes knowing whether Parliament is aware of these ships, and whether it will open an investigation in light of its recommendation not to sell weapons to the countries participating in the Yemen war.

According to the Spanish newspaper “Publicico”, the 39-member bloc is the most prominent document that shows what he said were violations committed by the Saudi “Bahri” company, including defrauding the ship identification system, submitting an incorrect navigation map, as well as anchoring near civilian ports , Which endangers other ships and civilians. Violations were described as a flagrant violation of the law of the sea.

False Maps
The document highlights that the Bahri company provided a false navigation map, then a change in the external identification marks of the ship with the aim of camouflaging and escaping from marine control.

It states that camouflage (is) the definition of the Saudi ship and the type of shipping, in which case the military hardware is considered a dangerous act because these ships dock in ports near the cities where civilians live, which is against the law.

"The ships of the Bahri Company do not operate the marine identification system, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the law of the sea because it exposes other ships to danger," left-wing deputy Manu Pineda said in statements to the newspaper "Publico".

The "united left" bloc questions the extent of the European Commission's knowledge of these dangerous behaviors, and will it start an investigation on them, especially since the European Parliament recommended not to sell weapons to the countries participating in the Yemeni war.

Despite the recommendation of the European Parliament not to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, some countries deliberately maneuver, including circumventing the law of the sea to ship military ammunition to Saudi Arabia, including camouflage by ships in ports such as submitting an incorrect navigation map, changing the numbering plate of the ship, and claiming to carry non-equipment Warship.

"#France must investigate its role in regards to the violations & the war crimes committed by its allies in Yemen. #France should support efforts made to fight impunity in #Yemen rather than help its allies evade justice" @RAlmutawakel @Sebastien_Nadot https: / /t.co/j6lgPmaFrw

- News Décoder (@NewsDecode) July 14, 2020

Spain is one of the European countries that export ammunition to Saudi Arabia, and there is a great debate about the necessity of stopping these exports. Some firefighters who oversee the transfer of equipment on some occasions refused to participate in securing the transfer of equipment, which leads to resorting to private companies to do this task.

Amnesty
Amnesty International has stated that in May / May 2019 that the European shipment of weapons to Saudi Arabia , is contrary to the obligations of European countries , members of the Arms Trade Treaty, in view of the possibility of those likely to use weapons in Yemen war.

The organization added that the European Union countries "should not authorize the transfer of weapons or their transit to a conflict zone, where weapons are used in a clear manner to commit war crimes, and other serious violations of international law."

Riyadh has imported between 2013 and 2018 nearly half of British arms exports, a third of what Belgium exported, and other countries such as France, Spain and Italy are among the major European countries in exporting arms to Riyadh. According to Amnesty International.