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7h ago

Turkey Bars Israeli Ships and Official Flights, Affirms Full Trade Cut

Ankara frames the expanded port and airspace curbs as a punitive response to Israel's actions in Gaza.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a press conference following the inaugural meeting of the Balkans Peace Platform, a Turkish-led initiative aimed at fostering dialogue and cooperation across the Western Balkans, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 26, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan said on August 29 that Ankara had closed its ports and airspace to Israeli ships and planes. A diplomatic source later clarified that the ban applied to official flights.
Turkey to Cut Economic Ties, Close Airspace to Israel
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Overview

  • Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told parliament Turkey has halted trade with Israel, closed ports to Israeli-linked vessels, and will not allow Turkish ships to call at Israeli ports.
  • A Turkish diplomatic source clarified that airspace restrictions apply to Israeli government and military flights and to aircraft carrying weapons to Israel, with international commercial transit unaffected.
  • Shipping giant ZIM said Ankara’s August 22 regulation bars Israeli-owned, managed or operated vessels from berthing in Turkish ports and warned of negative operational and financial impacts.
  • Reports describe Turkish port authorities seeking letters confirming vessels are not Israel-linked and not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for Israel, and that Turkish-flagged ships are barred from Israeli ports.
  • Opposition figures questioned the completeness of the trade cutoff by pointing to alleged oil flows via the BTC pipeline, a claim the energy ministry rejected as completely unfounded.