UN envoy calls on Turkey to stop supplying Israel with military equipment

Francesca Albanese, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, strongly criticized reports suggesting that a cargo ship named VELA, departing from a Turkish port, has transported military materials to the Israeli armed forces, Ermenihaber writes.

“Do not become accomplices in a crime. Supplying military cargo during the ongoing genocide in Gaza is a blatant violation of international law,” Albanese stated, calling on Turkey to immediately cease such cooperation.

This call came at a time when the Israeli military stopped and intervened with weapons against the Madleen ship, which was transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza. The ship carried activists from various countries, including Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, and two Turkish nationals. The passengers were placed under arrest.

Turkish authorities have publicly condemned Israel’s actions, describing them as genocide. However, at the same time, military shipments from Turkish ports to Israel have caused public discontent.

There is ongoing public criticism of the contradiction between the government’s rhetoric and actions — on one hand, the rhetoric of “No silence on Gaza’s plight,” and on the other, silent support for Israel’s military industry.

Research by the Ditch platform indicates that despite its public rhetoric, Turkey continues to maintain trade relations with Israel’s military industry.

“Starving civilian populations, persecuting aid providers, and continuing military shipments are gross violations of human rights. States should not become accomplices in this crime,” Albanese noted.