Ankara also restricts Turkish ships from visiting Israeli ports after signing the Bogota declaration
Turkey has imposed new restrictions on Israeli-owned and linked ships, barring them from visiting the country’s ports, a senior Turkish official told Middle East Eye.
Reuters reported that Turkish port authorities this week began informally requiring shipping agents to submit letters declaring that vessels are not connected to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for Turkish ports.
The report added that vessel owners, managers and operators must have no ties to Israel, and that certain types of cargo, including explosives, radioactive materials or military equipment, cannot be on board if en route to Israel.
Bloomberg, meanwhile, reported that Turkish-flagged ships have also been barred from calling at Israeli ports.
A senior Turkish official confirmed to MEE that Ankara has taken these moves against Israel as part of its punitive steps over the genocide in Gaza.
In May 2024, Ankara suspended its $8bn bilateral trade with Israel in response to Israel’s war on Gaza. This prompted Turkish companies to use third countries, such as Greece or Palestine, to continue shipping goods to Israel.
That loophole was closed in November, when Turkey introduced a three-stage process for companies exporting to Palestine. Under the new rules, businesses must obtain approval from the Palestinian economy ministry before completing transactions.
The latest shipping restrictions follow Ankara’s announcement last month that it was taking up six measures against Israel, in line with The Hague Group’s joint statement from the Bogota Emergency Conference on Palestine. (more...)
Turkey bars Israel-linked ships after Hague Group pledge
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