Turkey closes ports to Israeli vessels, halts trade links

Turkey has moved to tighten its stance against Israel, announcing a sweeping ban on Israeli vessels using Turkish ports, prohibiting Turkish ships from docking in Israeli ports, and imposing new restrictions on flights bound for Israel, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed on Friday.

Speaking at an extraordinary parliamentary session focused on Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, Fidan detailed measures designed to increase pressure on Tel Aviv over what Ankara has condemned as a genocide against Palestinians. Turkey has already suspended all trade with Israel, called for international accountability, and urged world powers to end their support for Israel’s offensive.

Sources revealed that Turkish port authorities have begun requiring shipping agents to provide written confirmation that vessels are not linked to Israel and are not carrying military or dangerous cargo destined for the country. Turkish-flagged ships are also banned from calling at Israeli ports.

“We have completely severed trade ties with Israel. Our ports are closed to their ships, and Turkish vessels are barred from entering their harbours,” Fidan declared. “We will not allow container ships carrying weapons and ammunition to Israel into our ports, nor will we permit flights supplying their aggression to use our airspace.”

Turkey’s stance underscores growing international outrage over Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which have left thousands of civilians dead and deepened the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged enclave.