New documents reviewed exclusively by Declassified and The Ditch have revealed that Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company, is continuing to transport military cargo to Israel, including critical components for the F-35 fighter jet. This new information sheds light on the ongoing role of Danish shipping giant Maersk in facilitating the Israeli military’s access to advanced weaponry, despite growing international opposition and scrutiny.
The shipment in question is related to components from the US Air Force Plant 4 in Fort Worth, Texas, a facility operated by Lockheed Martin that is pivotal in the production of F-35 fighter jets. Since 2016, Israel has received dozens of these jets, which have been deployed in various military operations, including those against Gaza. Lockheed Martin’s Air Force Plant 4 remains the central hub for manufacturing both the jets and their key components, making it a focal point in Israel’s military capability.
The specific cargo now being transported by Maersk includes parts for the maintenance and repair of Israel’s F-35 fleet. According to the cargo documentation, two Maersk container ships are set to transport these parts to Nevatim Air Base, one of Israel’s main military hubs. The Maersk Detroit, a US-flagged vessel, left the port of Houston on April 5, 2025, bound for Tangier, Morocco, where the cargo will be transferred to another Maersk ship, Nexoe Maersk. This vessel will make the final leg of the journey through the Mediterranean and is expected to dock at the Port of Haifa in Israel by May 1, 2025.
Once the components arrive at Haifa, they will be transported by land to Nevatim Air Base, where they will support Israel’s fleet of F-35s, which have been instrumental in Israeli airstrikes. These fighter jets have been linked to a series of controversial and deadly military operations in Gaza, including the 2024 bombing of a designated safe zone in Al-Mawasi, which killed 90 people. The use of these jets in such operations has led to accusations of war crimes.
Maersk’s Role in the Military Supply Chain
Maersk, a company with over 2,000 years of operational history, has come under increasing criticism for its involvement in military shipments to Israel. Since 2023, over 2,000 shipments of military goods, including armored vehicles, weapons systems, and fighter jet components, have been transported on Maersk vessels. In addition to transporting F-35 parts, the company has been implicated in the broader supply chain that facilitates the Israeli military’s operations, sparking protests from pro-Palestinian groups and labor organizations worldwide.
The Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), which has spearheaded international campaigns against companies aiding Israel’s military efforts, denounced Maersk for its role in transporting military supplies that they argue are directly contributing to what they call “genocide” in Gaza. A spokesperson for the PYM commented, “This shipment from Lockheed Martin aboard their vessels will ensure the maintenance and repair of Israeli F-35s, enabling them to continue their air strikes on Gaza, which have indiscriminately killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.”
The shipment from Maersk is just the latest in a series of freight operations that highlight the complex and often opaque nature of global military logistics. With over 2,000 shipments of military supplies made to Israel over a year, many are questioning whether Maersk, and other companies in the supply chain, should be held accountable for their role in facilitating military actions that have led to significant loss of life.
The UK’s Connection: F-35 Components Made in Britain
What is particularly striking about these shipments is the involvement of British-made components in the F-35 fighter jet. Over 15% of the F-35’s components are manufactured in the UK, with more than 100 British companies contributing to the fighter jet’s supply chain. Among these components are crucial parts, such as the rear fuselage, ejector seats, and electronics. These parts are sent to the US, where they are assembled at Air Force Plant 4 in Fort Worth before being shipped to Israel.
In December 2024, Declassified and The Ditch revealed that more than 500 shipments of F-35 components had been sent from a British airbase to the US for export to Israel. Given that these components are now being sent to Israel via Maersk ships, there is growing concern about the UK’s role in supplying arms to a nation accused of war crimes. Despite the UK government’s announcement of restrictions on some arms exports to Israel in 2024, shipments of critical F-35 parts have continued, often passing through third-party countries to avoid direct export.
Maersk’s Response and Legal Considerations
In response to mounting criticism, Maersk issued a statement defending its actions, asserting that it follows the protocols set out by the US government’s security cooperation programs. The company emphasized that it is prohibited from transporting classified or sensitive military cargo, including weapons and ammunition, without an approved transportation plan from the US government. Maersk’s defense focuses on its adherence to the legal and contractual frameworks established for international military shipments, particularly under US government programs.
However, critics argue that this defense does not absolve the company of moral responsibility. As the shipment of military supplies to Israel continues, pro-Palestinian activists and advocacy groups are increasing pressure on both Maersk and the governments involved. The PYM has pledged to continue its efforts to build an international movement for a global arms embargo targeting Israel’s military supply chain.
“We will continue to build with leftist forces, labor unions, and people of conscience around the world to enact a people’s arms embargo against the Western-backed military supply chain that fuels Zionist war and ethnic cleansing,” said the PYM representative. “Britain’s collaboration in these actions must end, and we will fight every day to ensure that it does.”
International Protests and Maersk’s Operations Under Scrutiny
In addition to the protests against Maersk’s operations, the company’s shipments to Israel have drawn attention from governments and international bodies. Notably, in Spain, there have been concerted efforts to block Maersk vessels from entering the country’s ports due to suspicions that they are carrying military goods intended for Israel. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted Maersk’s shipping operations in the Red Sea as part of their ongoing blockade against Israel, adding another layer of geopolitical complexity to the shipping giant’s operations.
Maersk’s continued involvement in transporting military cargo to Israel raises serious ethical and legal questions. As international campaigns against the company intensify, it remains to be seen whether governments, particularly in the US and UK, will take stronger action to curb the flow of military supplies to Israel.
