Protesters gathered at Istanbul’s Ambarlı Port yesterday, blocking trucks they believed were transporting goods to Israel amid rising tensions due to the Gaza conflict. Among the vehicles stopped was a truck carrying containers reportedly belonging to Israel’s ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. Protesters pointed to labels on the containers showing ZIM’s headquarters in Haifa, Israel, and shared these images widely on social media to substantiate their claims.
In an attempt to disperse the protesters, Ambarlı Port security personnel fired shots in the air. This escalation highlights ongoing public discontent with perceived trade ties that, many argue, indirectly support Israel’s economy and undermine solidarity with Gaza.
The protest was part of broader public outcry, with citizens demanding accountability from Türkiye over its stance on trade relations with Israel during a period of heightened tension in the Middle East.
Despite widespread claims of ongoing trade, Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM) recently countered such allegations. In a statement dated 20 September, DMM claimed that “Türkiye suspended all export and import transactions with Israel as of 2 May 2024.”