Recent reports reveal that Greek shipping companies have secretly transported large quantities of oil, coal, and munitions to Israel, violating Turkey's trade embargo. Between May 2024 and December 2025, a total of 57 shipments of crude oil were delivered to Israeli ports, where tracking signals were concealed and false destinations were registered.
The report, prepared by the campaign "No Refuge for Genocide," showed that approximately 47 million barrels of oil were transported to Israel via Turkey, highlighting how these companies circumvented the imposed embargo. Additionally, 13 shipments of munitions and other military materials used by Israel's largest arms company, "Elbit Systems," were also monitored.
Details of the Operations
The covert activities of Greek shipping companies, such as "Kyclades Marine" and "Thinamaris," involved using techniques to hide the locations of ships, with Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) disabled during shipments. The vessels were heading to ports like "Ashkelon" in Israel while declaring false destinations such as "Port Said" in Egypt.
This type of activity is part of what is known as a "shadow fleet," where tactics are employed to hide shipments from international monitoring. Satellite images have shown that these ships were docked in Israeli ports while their signals were disabled.
Background & Context
Since the onset of Israeli attacks on Gaza in October 2023, pressure has escalated from activists and labor movements in Europe and around the world to halt arms and vital supplies to Israel. In May 2024, Turkey announced a suspension of all imports and exports with Israel due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
However, Greek companies continued to bypass this embargo, representing 91.23% of oil shipments from Turkey to Israel after the embargo was imposed, compared to 21.82% before. These shipments primarily come from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which is considered a lifeline for Israeli oil supplies.
Impact & Consequences
These activities demonstrate that the Israeli war is not isolated but supported by an international network of companies, ports, and governments that continue to supply Israel with fuel and weapons. Activist Anna Sanchez expressed concern that ship owners are manipulating tracking systems and endangering the lives of sailors for profit.
In February 2026, dockworkers in over 20 Mediterranean ports went on strike demanding an end to arms shipments to Israel. These movements reflect a growing awareness and protests against practices deemed inhumane.
Regional Significance
These events hold particular significance for the Arab world, reflecting the ongoing international complicity in supporting the Israeli occupation. Additionally, these activities raise questions about the role of major companies in regional conflicts and how they can affect security and stability in the area.
In conclusion, there must be greater pressure on governments and companies to halt these unethical activities and ensure that resources are not used to support wars and conflicts that lead to significant human suffering.