Maersk arms shipments to Israel are again under scrutiny after Oxfam Denmark and the Palestinian Youth Movement accused the Danish shipping and logistics group of transporting weapon components used in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The new report, published in June 2026, says A.P. Møller – Mærsk has carried munition components to Israel since October 2023, despite the company’s public statements that it does not transport weapons or ammunition to active conflict zones. Maersk rejects the allegation that it ships weapons or ammunition to Israel, but has acknowledged that its USA-flag subsidiary, Maersk Line Limited, transports military-related cargo under USA government contracts.
Oxfam says Maersk shipped parts for bullets, bombs and mortars
The report, titled Bullets, Bombs, and Mortars: Maersk’s Shipments of Munition Components to Israel, argues that Maersk’s role goes beyond the transport of generic military-related goods. According to Oxfam Denmark and the Palestinian Youth Movement, the cargo included bullet cores, brass case cups, bomb bodies, aluminum powder and 120 mm mortar components.
The organisations say these components are connected to weapons systems used by Israel in Gaza. They also claim that the shipments helped sustain Israel’s military capacity during a war that has caused widespread civilian destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Oxfam’s report focuses on shipments allegedly destined for Israeli military manufacturer Elbit Systems and related production chains. It presents the findings as evidence that Maersk’s logistics network has remained part of a wider military supply chain, even after the company said it had strengthened cargo review and approval procedures.
The allegations are significant because Maersk is not only one of Denmark’s most prominent companies. It is also one of the world’s largest shipping groups, with a central role in global trade routes and logistics infrastructure. That position makes its due diligence procedures politically and legally sensitive when cargo is linked to active conflict zones.
Maersk says it does not ship weapons or ammunition to Israel
Maersk has maintained that it follows international standards for responsible business conduct, including the UN Global Compact and OECD guidelines. In a public statement, the company said it has a strict policy of not shipping weapons or ammunition to active conflict zones, and that it has strengthened its screening procedures since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel.
At the same time, Maersk has said that Maersk Line Limited, its USA-flag subsidiary, operates under contracts with the USA government. These contracts can include the transport of civilian and military-related cargo to several countries, including Israel, under USA security cooperation programmes.
This distinction is at the centre of the dispute. Maersk says it does not transport weapons or ammunition to Israel. Oxfam and the Palestinian Youth Movement argue that the components listed in their report are not ordinary cargo, but essential parts of weapons and ammunition systems.
Reuters reported in March 2025 that Maersk denied shipping arms or ammunition to Israel, while acknowledging that it transports military-related cargo in compliance with applicable laws. The same report noted that Denmark had not imposed an arms embargo or specific restrictions on weapons shipments to Israel.
The report raises questions over corporate due diligence
The Maersk case comes as European companies face growing pressure over their business links to conflict zones. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD standards, companies are expected to assess whether their activities contribute to human rights abuses, especially in high-risk contexts.
For Oxfam, the issue is whether Maersk’s screening procedures are sufficient when cargo may be used in weapons systems deployed in Gaza. The organisation argues that companies should not only comply with domestic law, but also prevent their services from enabling serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The legal and political context remains contested. UN experts and several human rights groups have called for stronger restrictions on arms transfers to Israel. Israel rejects allegations of genocide and says its military campaign is directed against Hamas, which carried out the 7 October 2023 attacks in southern Israel.
For Denmark, the controversy places a major national company in a difficult position. Maersk is a key symbol of Danish economic power and global connectivity. The allegations therefore also raise questions about how Nordic countries apply human rights standards to private companies operating across international supply chains.
