Forty-one ships have left Turkish ports for Israel since November 1, Turkish investigative journalist Metin Cihan reported on X on Saturday, despite Turkey’s announcement of an embargo on trade with Israel that was imposed in May of this year due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Uluslararası gemi trafik kayıtlarına geçtiğimiz aydan bu yana, 1 Kasım'dan beri, limanlarımızdan kalkıp İsrail limanlarına varan gemilerin listesi. pic.twitter.com/l24jZAkHjv
— metin cihan (@metcihan) December 7, 2024
The list, compiled from open source international maritime traffic records, contains details of ships originating from ports such as Mersin, Iskenderun, Nemrut and others and calling at Israeli ports such as Ashdod and Haifa. The data includes sailings that took place as recently as December 7, indicating continued maritime activity between the two nations.
Cihan shared the information on X, explaining that the records reflect a steady flow of goods from Turkish ports to Israel, despite Ankara’s public stance against Israeli actions in Gaza.
The journalist’s report highlights a growing controversy over Turkey’s policy towards Israel. Interest groups and activists have previously claimed that trade between the two nations is conducted through indirect channels or via intermediaries to disguise the final shipments.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies in Gaza and has portrayed Turkey as a strong ally of the Palestinians in international forums. However, claims of ongoing trade contradict this rhetoric and have drawn criticism both at home and abroad.
In recent weeks, protests have erupted across Turkey over reports of ongoing economic ties with Israel. Activists have accused Erdoğan’s government of hypocrisy, with some protests leading to arrests.