Turkey Expands Maritime Trade Restrictions Against Israel

Turkey has intensified its maritime restrictions on Israel by requiring shipping agents to provide letters declaring that vessels have no ties to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo. These informal demands, applied across all Turkish ports, effectively bar Israeli-owned or linked ships and certain cargo types from docking, while Turkish-flagged ships are also prohibited from calling at Israeli ports. This escalation follows Turkey's suspension of approximately $7-8 billion in annual bilateral trade with Israel in response to the Gaza conflict and aims to close loopholes where goods were routed through third countries. The measures align with Turkey's broader punitive stance, including endorsement of The Hague Group's commitments to hold Israel accountable under international law. Although no official circular has been issued, port authorities, such as the Kocaeli harbor master, enforce these restrictions verbally, signaling a significant policy shift amid ongoing regional tensions. These developments underscore Turkey's firm condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, which it has labeled as genocide, a charge Israel denies.