2021 Mediterranean oil spill

Starting on 16 February 2021, dozens to hundreds of tons of tar washed up on the beaches along a 160-kilometre (99 mi) stretch of Israel's coast from Rosh Hanikra to Ashkelon, following a heavy storm and unusually high waves.

[8] The Israeli military pledged to deploy several thousand soldiers to support more than 4000 EcoOcean volunteers, who had begun clearing the beaches of clumps of tar.

[citation needed] Several volunteers taking part in the massive clean-up operation complained of malaise after inhaling toxic fumes and were taken to hospitals.

[12] At the request of the Environmental Protection Ministry, the Haifa Magistrates Court issued a gag order on 22 February: publications of the names of people or ships, ports, navigation routes or cargo that could lead to the identification of suspects were banned.

The Israeli media described this as "irregular" while the environmental protection organization Adam Teva veDin warned of a loss of confidence in the government as a result of this measure.

[14] On 3 March, Israeli environment minister Gila Gamliel said the oil had been spilled intentionally by a ship carrying it from Iran to Syria, calling it an act of eco-terrorism;[15] however, her claims were disputed by security officials.