DID News: A recent report by Middle East Eye reveals that several Greek shipping companies have secretly transported oil, coal, and military equipment to Israel over the past two years. According to the report, from May 2024 to December 2025, at least 57 oil shipments totaling around 47 million barrels were sent to Israeli ports.
These transfers primarily passed through Turkey, with ships turning off tracking systems and registering false destinations, such as Egypt’s Port Said, effectively bypassing Turkey’s trade sanctions against Israel. Additionally, between October 2023 and February 2026, eight coal shipments totaling 751,000 tons from South Africa reportedly reached Israel clandestinely.
In 2025, at least 13 military shipments—including ammunition components and equipment linked to the defense company Elbit Systems—were delivered to Israel. Greek firms Thenamaris and Kyklades increased their share in oil transfers from roughly 22% to over 91% following Turkey’s sanctions.
Part of the oil also came via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, which supplies about 30% of Israel’s oil needs.
The report raises serious questions about Turkey’s enforcement of its stated sanctions on Israel. While Ankara has officially imposed trade restrictions, opaque maritime routes and activities passing through Turkish territory or infrastructure suggest tacit cooperation with Israel. This discrepancy between declared policy and practical behavior deeply undermines the credibility of Turkey’s foreign policy.