Malaysia Bans Israeli-based Zim Shipping Company from Entering Ports

Malaysian has imposed a ban on all Israeli-owned and flagged ships, as well as any vessels headed to Israel, from docking at its ports.

It also blocks Israel-based ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from anchoring at any of the Southeast Asian nation’s ports.

"The country is also banning ships bearing Israeli flags, and will prevent vessels destined for Israel from loading cargo at its ports", Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement Wednesday. The ban is effective immediately.

“These sanctions are a response to Israel’s actions ignoring the basic principles of humanity and breaking the international law through continued massacres and atrocities against Palestinians,” Ibrahim added. 

Israel is launching a campaign against the Gaza Strip after a cross-border operation carried out by Hamas on October 7, which Israel said led to the killing of 1,200 and the taking of 240 hostages. 

Since then, Israeli forces have besieged the coastal strip and destroyed a large part of it, while Palestinian health officials have confirmed that nearly 19,000 have been killed, and there are fears that thousands more are buried under the rubble.