In response to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and growing domestic pressure, Turkey suspended bilateral trade with Israel as early as May 2024. The suspension covered exports and imports worth more than USD 7 billion annually. The government also began restricting the export of 54 categories of goods, including steel, cement, construction machinery, and fuels.
Ban on Israeli ships entering Turkish ports
In August 2025, Turkey officially extended the ban to Israeli vessels — both those sailing under the Israeli flag and those owned by Israeli entities. The ban covers all cargo linked to Israel, meaning Turkish ports will no longer handle goods destined for or originating from Israel.
In addition, Turkish authorities began informally requiring shipowners to submit written declarations confirming that their vessels have no links to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for that country.
Meanwhile, Turkish-flagged ships were prohibited from docking at Israeli ports. This measure also affects humanitarian aid bound for the Palestinian Authority, as it is often routed through Israeli ports.
Impact on ZIM
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, one of Israel’s largest shipping companies, has been directly affected by the ban. According to the Israeli news outlet Globes, Turkish port authorities refused entry to a ZIM vessel in Istanbul, forcing the ship to divert to the port of Piraeus in Greece. No official solutions have yet been announced for cargo bound for Turkish ports.
Is the ban consistently enforced?
Despite the announced restrictions, reports suggest that ZIM vessels continued to call at Turkish ports under arrangements made before the formal regulations were implemented. ZIM ships have been reported in ports such as Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli, Bursa, and Mersin. Meanwhile, social protests erupted — in Istanbul and Mersin, ZIM containers were blocked, and port security fired warning shots into the air to disperse demonstrators.
The Turkish Ministry of Trade has consistently insisted that since May 2, 2024, all trade with Israel has been fully suspended, and Israel has been removed as a possible destination country in customs systems.
