A ship transporting grain that Ukraine alleges was taken from occupied territory by Russian forces has been turned away from unloading in Israel, Israeli media reported on Thursday, following a request from Kyiv for Israel to impound the cargo.
The Jerusalem Post and other media outlets referenced a statement from Israel’s Grain Importers Association, which said the firm handling the grain import was compelled to refuse the vessel.
The importing firm, identified as Zenziper, reportedly did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation.
The incident comes as rising diplomatic tension between Ukraine and Israel over allegations that grain sourced from Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation is being exported and sold abroad
Kyiv maintains that all agricultural products originating from the five occupied regions, including Crimea, are considered stolen and has warned of potential sanctions against entities involved in their trade.
Moscow, which asserts control over the occupied regions, has not publicly commented on the legal status of the grain exports
Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein had earlier said Ukraine had not provided evidence to support its claims that the grain was stolen. He did not immediately respond to further requests for comment regarding the vessel’s reported refusal to unload.
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