A guarantee speeches confirming not to be linked to Israel

Two sources in the shipping sector said that the Turkish ports authorities began informally asking for shipping agents to provide letters confirming that ships are not linked to Israel and do not carry military or dangerous shipments to them.

This new procedure comes after Ankara’s decision last year to cut trade relations with Israel against the background of its continued war on the Hama movement in Gaza. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries was estimated at about seven billion dollars. According to the exporters, the Port Chairman’s office issued oral instructions to port agents that it is necessary to provide written assurances, without any official circular on this issue so far. One of the exporters confirmed that the instructions include all ports across Turkey, while the other explained that the Ports Authority of the Qarah region of Eli (northwest of Turkey) informed that the ships coming directly from Israel or leaving them will not be allowed to dock in Turkish ports. The same source added that the ships that raise the Turkish flag will also be prevented from drawing in Israeli ports. There was no comment from the Turkish Ministry of Transport on the issue. This step may lead to more complications in front of the shipments directed to Israel in the eastern Mediterranean, at a time when the region is witnessing other naval disturbances as a result of the Houthi group attacks in the Red Sea since 2023, which it says comes in solidarity with the Palestinians. Turkey, a NATO member, ascends its accent against Israel, describing its war on Gaza as “extermination Collective “for the Palestinians, which is denied by Tel Aviv. According to the second source, the new warranty letters must stipulate that the owners of the ships, their managers and operators have no connection to Israel, and that some types of shipments, such as explosives, radioactive materials and military equipment, are not present on board ships heading towards them.