Mersin: Trkiye on Tuesday denied allegations that the Liberian-flagged container ship VELA, which docked at the country's southern Mersin Port, was carrying steel for Israel's military industry. The ship arrived from Spain and underwent thorough inspections upon its docking on June 9, 2025.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trkiye's Center for Combating Disinformation conducted a meticulous examination of the loading manifest and customs records of the ship. It confirmed that no steel or military-purpose items registered under Israel Military Industries (IMI) or any similar institution were detected on the ship.
A total of 461 containers were unloaded at Mersin Port, with 220 of them being empty, and 241 loaded. The center confirmed that the loaded containers did not contain any steel or materials that could be used for military purposes. Additionally, 1,570 containers on board were identified as transit cargo destined for other countries, while 33 loaded containers, primarily containing food supplies, were bound for Palestine.
The center highlighted that Turkish ports handle tens of thousands of international cargo ships each year, processing about 8 million containers in full compliance with international rules and complete transparency. Furthermore, Trkiye has fully suspended all trade relations with Israel since May 2, 2024, following its actions against Palestine.
Trkiye's customs system has been closed to all foreign trade transactions involving Israel, ensuring no commercial activity linked to Israel is permitted in free zones or ports. The center emphasized Trkiye's principled stance against Israel's actions in Gaza and urged people not to believe in "unfounded allegations."
On May 2, 2024, Trkiye suspended all export and import operations with Israel due to its "aggression against Palestine in violation of international law and human rights," according to the Trade Ministry.