Critics have accused groups supporting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of hypocrisy after they organized a high-profile Gaza solidarity rally in İstanbul on Wednesday, due to reports revealing ongoing crude oil shipments from Turkey to Israel despite an embargo.
On January 1, more than 400 civil society organizations joined a march to İstanbul’s Galata Bridge, organized by the pro-Erdoğan Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and the National Will Platform, under the banner “Yesterday Hagia Sophia, Today Umayyad, Tomorrow Al-Aqsa.”
The slogan references the Turkish government’s controversial conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020, a move celebrated by supporters as a reclamation of Islamic heritage. The “Today Umayyad” segment alludes to Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın’s highly publicized prayer at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, signaling Turkey’s influence in post-Assad Syria. “Tomorrow Al-Aqsa” symbolizes aspirations for further political and symbolic leadership in the Muslim world, particularly concerning the liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
The event featured a speech by Bilal Erdoğan, a son of President Erdoğan, who declared Turkey’s unwavering support for Gaza, Palestine and Syria, stating, “No one should think Turkey is asleep. We are here, Turkey is here.”
Critics pointed to Turkey’s contradictory policies, as a report by the Stop Fueling Genocide campaign revealed that 10 crude oil shipments were made from Turkey to Israel in 2024, violating Ankara’s announced embargo. The shipments, tracked via satellite imagery and shipping data, reportedly included Azeri crude oil transported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, a key source of Israel’s crude imports.
The report detailed how tankers like the Kimolos and Seavigour frequently disabled tracking signals in the eastern Mediterranean to obscure their movements, with evidence showing deliveries to Israel’s EAPC terminal in Ashkelon. This revelation contradicted statements from Turkey’s energy minister, who had denied any shipments to Israel since the embargo began in May 2024.
Critics pointed to these findings as evidence of hypocrisy, accusing the Erdoğan government of using pro-Palestine rhetoric while facilitating trade with Israel. Activists argue that crude oil refined in Israel contributes to fueling its military equipment.
Israel has been widely condemned for its actions in Gaza.
During the rally a group of protesters carrying a banner reading, “Murderous Zim and murderous Maersk, enablers of Zionism, get out of Turkey,” was denied entry. Zim and Maersk are major international shipping companies, accused by protesters of facilitating Israeli military operations by transporting goods and materials to Israel.
The group argued that their message aligned with the rally’s pro-Palestinian stance, but organizers cited logistical concerns and demonstration guidelines to justify the exclusion. Three individuals were detained following the disagreement and later released.
The rally was attended by high-ranking officials, including Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat and TÜGVA President İbrahim Beşinci, along with several AKP members and civil society leaders. However, public backlash on social media, amplified by posts from prominent figures, accused the government of staging the event as a performative display to distract from its hypocritical policies.
In December, nine activists who had interrupted Erdoğan’s November 29 speech at the TRT World Forum in İstanbul, accusing the president of hypocrisy for allegedly facilitating crude oil shipments to Israel despite Turkey’s public stance against Israeli military actions in Gaza, were detained and subsequently arrested by a court on December 2. They were released on December 6 after their lawyers filed an appeal contesting the arrests.
The arrests have sparked outrage among human rights groups and activists. Critics argue that Erdoğan’s government is suppressing dissent while enabling trade that contradicts its pro-Palestinian rhetoric.
Experts warn that if the International Court of Justice concludes Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, those enabling Israel may be held to have been complicit. Advocacy groups are urging Turkey to enforce its embargo and align its policies with its stated support for the Palestinian cause.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that resulted in the death of 1,206 people and the taking of some 250 hostages.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, Israeli military has killed at least 45,581 Palestinians and wounded 108,438 since October 7, 2023.
A report released by Amnesty International on December 5 concludes that Israel’s actions in Gaza qualify as genocide.