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Greta Thunberg at COP: Turkish energy shipments ‘directly fuelling the genocide of Palestine’
Greta Thunberg urged Turkey to stop fuel shipments to Israel at the COP31 climate conference, saying they were helping to fuel Israel’s assault on Palestinians. Her appeal drew attention to a reported gap between Ankara’s public criticism of Israel and claims that oil continues to reach Israeli ports from Turkey.
A report by three campaign groups identified 77 crude oil shipments, totalling nearly 6,463 kilotonnes, from Ceyhan to Israel between May 2024 and June 2026, despite Turkey’s trade embargo announced in May 2024. The oil is Azerbaijani crude carried through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline; researchers say it accounts for more than 40 per cent of Israel’s oil imports and is used to fuel military vehicles and aircraft. Turkey says it does not control where the oil is sold, while the report says shipments continued after officials pledged legal action over false destination declarations.
In short
- Thunberg called on Turkey to halt fuel shipments to Israel.
- Report traces 77 crude oil shipments from Ceyhan to Israel.
- Turkey’s trade embargo was announced in May 2024.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If the reported shipments continued after Turkey announced an embargo, Ankara has a responsibility to examine whether its territory and infrastructure are enabling trade that sustains Israel’s military operations. Given the researchers’ claim that this crude supplies a substantial share of Israel’s oil imports, tighter controls or legal action could give practical effect to Turkey’s stated policy and reduce potential complicity in harm to Palestinians.
The case against
Turkey’s position is that the crude is Azerbaijani and that it does not control its final sale, so responsibility for the shipments may lie with the sellers, buyers or other parties in the supply chain. Officials could argue that any response should follow evidence and lawful authority, and that stopping transit without clear control over the oil risks exceeding Turkey’s powers while having uncertain effects on Israel’s military capacity.
Climate Geopolitics Middle East Politics Science World