International Call to Action: Türkiye, Stop Fuelling Genocide!

In May 2024, the Turkish government announced a total trade embargo against Israel in response to the ongoing genocide against Palestinians. A new report by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Energy Embargo for Palestine and the Progressive International now reveals that at least 57 shipments of crude oil—totaling nearly 47 million barrels of oil—have been delivered from Ceyhan to Israel after Türkiye's alleged trade embargo was established. These oil transfers were and continue to be carried out in secret—vessels turn off their tracking signals, and shipping data is routinely manipulated.

Once in Israel, the oil is refined by UN-blacklisted companies and supplied to the Israeli military, who depend on this oil to carry out the genocide against Palestinians. 40% of Israel's oil comes from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which is majority owned and operated by British energy giant BP. Most of the vessels transporting oil between Türkiye and Israel are managed by Greek companies Kyklades Maritime Corporation and Thenamaris Management Inc.

We are calling for a coordinated international day of action on January 27th 2026, to mobilise and pressure the Turkish government to uphold its commitment to a trade embargo by halting all shipments of oil to Israel.

Our day of action centres around the following calls:

The Turkish government must prevent all future energy shipments to Israel and enforce a full trade embargo which stops crude oil shipments leaving Türkiye for Israel.

We call on dockworkers and the people of Türkiye to take all necessary measures against British oil giant BP and the responsible Greek shipping companies to ensure that no more oil from Turkish ports reaches Israel.

We also call on The Hague Group to work to ensure full compliance from signatories.

Background:

Researchers from the Palestinian Youth Movement, Energy Embargo for Palestine and the Progressive International tracked satellite images and investigated data inaccuracies to uncover the reality: oil leaving Turkish ports regularly arrives in Israel. This builds on previous research that exposed Türkiye's oil shipments to Israel and the clandestine methods used. The tankers involved routinely turn off their tracking signals and list alternative end destinations. These tactics aim to hide the correct data or trade routes from workers and the public.

As a member of the Hague Group since July 2025, Türkiye has agreed to follow the Group's measures against Israel, including the prevention of transferring dual-use items to Israel. BTC crude oil can be classified as a dual-use item, as it is refined into jet fuel in the Ashkelon refinery by Paz Oil to refuel Israeli Air Forces operating in Gaza and additionally serves civilian needs and infrastructure

The transfer of oil from Türkiye to Israel is enabled by corporate actors, namely BP and shipping companies Kyklades Maritime Corporation and Thenamaris Management Inc. BP is the primary owner and operator of both the oil fields in Azerbaijan and the BTC pipeline used to transport Azeri oil to Türkiye and Israel. BP is also directly involved in Israel's energy sector in 2025 as part of a consortium of energy companies awarded exploration licenses to search for gas in occupied Palestinian waters. BP’s role in this oil trade has already triggered a legal challenge from the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians and led to the company being cited in the UN’s investigation into the corporate machinery sustaining Israel’s genocide and settler-colonialism.

BTC crude oil plays an essential role in fuelling Israel's genocide and military occupation of Palestine. Once in Israel, the oil is used to power both military vehicles and infrastructure and to support illegal settlements that further displace Palestinians from their land. We must act to pressure Turkey to fully cut off this essential resource that enables Israel to fuel its ongoing genocide and settler-occupation of Palestine.

How to support our call to action:

• Join the People's Embargo for Palestine webinar on Saturday, 24th January, to learn more about our report and our international call to action
• Rally outside the Turkish embassy or consulate in your locale on Tuesday, 27 January, as part of a coordinated effort to put pressure on the Turkish government to halt oil shipments to Israel.
• Amplify and share our report: create digital and physical communication on Turkey's oil exports to Israel and document any actions you take.

Our full report is available in both English and Turkish.