Turkey has escalated its confrontation with Israel by introducing new restrictions on maritime connections, as part of its wider policy response to the Gaza conflict. The latest Turkey sanctions on Israel prohibit ships owned by or linked to Israeli companies from docking at Turkish ports, while Turkish vessels are now barred from entering Israeli harbours.
According to port authorities, shipping agents must now declare that vessels have no ties to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo. Shipowners and operators are also required to provide proof that they are not connected to Israeli firms.
This move follows Ankara’s earlier suspension in May 2024 of bilateral trade worth $8 billion, which forced Turkish companies to reroute transactions through third countries such as Greece and Palestine. That loophole was closed in November, when Turkey introduced a three-stage approval process for exports bound for Palestine.
The new restrictions form part of six commitments Turkey adopted in July in coordination with the Hague Group, a coalition of eight nations demanding international sanctions against Israel. The measures include halting military exports, banning the transit of Israeli weapons through Turkish territory, excluding Israeli firms from public contracts, and blocking the supply of dual-use materials.
The Hague Group, created in January 2024 with members from Latin America, Africa and Asia, seeks accountability for what it calls Israel’s “serious violations of international law” in Gaza. Turkey became the first state to formally implement the group’s commitments.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply in recent months, particularly after Ankara, together with South Africa, filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide.
Today’s decision to enforce a Turkey sanctions on Israel shipping ban marks the latest in a series of steps underscoring Ankara’s hardening stance against Tel Aviv.
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