Israeli cargo ships face intensifying protests at Turkish ports as demonstrators demand a complete halt to trade they believe supports Israeli military action.
The port town of Gemlik, in western Bursa province, has become the latest epicenter of protests across Turkey targeting Israeli ships. Young activists have been staging protests since Saturday and started a sit-in at the port on Wednesday, calling for the departure of Israeli vessels docked at the port.
Recently, activist groups have staged several sit-ins and blockades at key Turkish ports protesting trade activity they claim bolsters Israel’s military, especially in Gaza and Lebanon.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, a major Israeli shipping company active in Turkey, has attracted public outrage. Protesters argue these trade activities contradict the Turkish government’s official stance against Israel’s military actions.
Despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s public denunciations of Israel’s actions in Gaza, trade relations between Turkey and Israel allegedly continue despite a trade ban imposed by Turkey in May, with the presence of ZIM ships and other Israeli vessels in Turkish waters casting doubt on the enforcement of this ban.
The protests are unfolding amid heightened public scrutiny of Turkey-Israel trade relations. Protesters and opposition figures are demanding greater transparency.
Warning shots rang out at İstanbul’s Ambarlı port on November 1 as security personnel tried to disperse protesters attempting to block a ZIM ship from docking. The protesters chanted slogans such as “No Zionism in our ports,” expressing anger over apparently secret trade with Israel. Police stepped in after the warning shots to secure the port area and keep the crowd away from the ZIM containers.
Similar protests have erupted at other major Turkish ports, such as Mersin, Kocaeli and İzmir. Stand Up for Palestine and other youth-led groups are urging regular citizens, academics and community leaders to join the movement. They aim to halt what they refer to as “unclean trade.” They vow to continue demonstrating until Israeli shipping companies no longer utilize Turkish ports.
These protests are part of a broader global movement against ZIM, which has faced boycotts and demonstrations in countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, Australia and Greece. Critics argue that ZIM’s operations facilitate the transportation of military supplies to Israel, thereby supporting its military campaigns.
Political figures have also voiced their disapproval of the apparent discrepancies between the Turkish government’s public condemnation of Israel and ongoing trade activity.
Notably, Selçuk Özdağ, a lawmaker from Turkey’s Islamist opposition Felicity Party (SP), accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of covertly maintaining economic ties with Israel despite public statements to the contrary.
Özdağ’s criticism centers on allegations that Turkish exports to Israel continue through indirect channels under the guise of trade with Palestinian territories, particularly the West Bank. The politician described this approach as hypocritical, accusing the AKP of “bravado on the surface” while continuing trade and “friendship” with Israel in secret.
Other opposition leaders have echoed Özdağ’s concerns. SP parliamentary group deputy chairman Bülent Kaya has highlighted the role of public protests in exposing these activities, suggesting that without such civil actions, the Turkish public might be unaware of the nature of these shipments.
Kaya also called for the government to address protesters’ demands for a more stringent application of the trade ban on Israeli-linked companies and urged authorities to demonstrate a clear alignment between Turkey’s foreign policy stance and its economic activities.
Among the vessels drawing public ire is the ZIM Virginia, an Israeli-flagged ship that recently docked at Turkey’s Mersin port and later arrived at Ashdod, Israel. Despite the official embargo on Israeli goods, the ZIM Virginia openly transported goods between Mersin and Ashdod, fueling accusations that Turkey’s trade ban on Israel has not been rigorously enforced.
Public criticism has intensified with the presence of another controversial ship, the MV Kathrin, which activists allege is transporting military-grade explosives bound for Israel. The MV Kathrin, owned by the German-based Lubeca Marine, has faced rejection from multiple international ports, including Spain, Slovenia and Malta, due to suspicions of weapons transport. After being denied entry to several countries, the ship docked at an İstanbul port, where it was met with continued protests from local activists.
Journalist Metin Cihan, who has played a key role in documenting the movements of these vessels, reported on X that the MV Kathrin, which left İstanbul after protests earlier this week, is en route to Turkey’s southern Antalya province.
Cihan, who previously exposed Turkey’s trade relations with Israel, has openly questioned the Turkish government’s willingness to allow vessels like the MV Kathrin and ZIM ships to operate in Turkish waters despite the public outcry. In a recent post, he criticized Turkish authorities for allegedly providing a “safe haven” for Israeli-affiliated vessels.
Activist groups have expressed frustration over what they perceive as Turkish authorities’ lack of transparency regarding trade activities with Israel. A statement from the activist collective Direniş Çadırı (Resistance Tent) claimed that companies like Turkish steel producer İÇDAŞ continue to send steel to Israel through indirect channels, facilitating the docking of ZIM ships at a port it operates. Activists argue that indirect trade undermines Turkey’s official position and contradicts its public support for Palestine.
Citing a reported 672 percent increase in reported Turkish exports to Palestine since May 2024, activists have questioned the usefulness of such exports for a region with limited production capabilities. They claim that these goods, including industrial materials such as barbed wire, cement and chemicals, could ultimately be used to support Israeli operations, particularly in Gaza.
The activist community has called for stricter and more transparent trade policies, with Direniş Çadırı demanding an immediate end to all shipments related to Israel. The protesters have called on Turkish unions and port workers to refuse to handle Israel-related cargoes, as port workers in other countries, including Greece, Belgium and Malaysia, have done.
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated that all trade with Israel has been suspended since May. However, Bolat did not directly address reports that ZIM ships continue to operate in Turkish ports. The Turkish Ministry of Trade has repeatedly emphasized that customs authorities are vigilant in enforcing the ban, yet reports of increased export volumes to Palestine continue to circulate.
Recent data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) indicate that Turkish exports to Palestine have risen sharply in recent months. While TİM and the ministry of trade have claimed that these exports are in line with official trade policy, critics argue that such figures raise questions about the final destination of these goods.
Amid the ongoing protests, government officials have yet to provide a comprehensive answer on the continuity of ZIM operations and the presence of the MV Kathrin in Turkish waters. Activist groups vow to maintain port blockades and demonstrations until they see concrete action supporting Turkey’s stated opposition to Israeli policies in Gaza and Lebanon.