The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and its partners recently celebrated a major victory in stopping the “Catherine” ship loaded with explosives from reaching Israel. Thanks to pressure exerted by the BDS movement, the Maltese government, Namibia, and Angola prevented the ship from entering their territories or docking at their ports.

The Portuguese-flagged ship carried eight containers of explosives intended for military purposes in Gaza, but due to popular and trade union pressure, the Portuguese government halted its journey. The BDS movement now calls for increased pressure on governments to avoid complicity with Israel’s policies and to impose military sanctions on the nation.