[44995] Diplomatic Crisis: Israeli company refused to unload wheat cargo stolen from Ukraine

Diplomatic incident surrounding the cargo ship Panormitis at Haifa Port

A diplomatic storm has erupted between Kyiv and Jerusalem over the arrival of the cargo ship Panormitis, which, according to Ukrainian sources, was carrying wheat stolen from occupied territories in Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine submitted a formal request to Israel to detain the ship, conduct searches, and seize documents, as reported by the Україна Online channel.

According to reports in the Israeli media and the ТСН channel, the Israeli grain importer "Tzenziper" decided to refuse to unload the cargo. As noted on the ҐРУНТ channel, the decision was made primarily due to severe concern regarding potential European Union sanctions, alongside the absence of clear government guidelines on how to act in cases of suspected stolen goods.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the move and described it as the result of effective legal and diplomatic efforts. According to him, this is a "clear signal to all market participants – do not buy stolen Ukrainian wheat." At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv is formulating a sanctions package against the parties involved in this trade, according to a report on Новини.LIVE.

The affair sparked sharp criticism from various Ukrainian officials, who claimed it was a "systemic practice and political disregard" by parties in Israel, as published on ZN.UA. As of now, the ship has left the Port of Haifa on its way to seek another unloading port, thereby avoiding a broader direct confrontation between the countries over the issue.