Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has called on Turkish authorities to investigate and stop a cargo ship allegedly carrying steel to Israel’s defense industry, warning the shipment could support acts of genocide in Gaza.
Last night, Israel hijacked the Madleen and abducted civilians bringing baby formula to Palestinians facing induced starvation as part of Israel's ongoing destruction of Gaza.
Today, information provided by The Ditch indicates that #VELA vessel docking currently in #Turkey… pic.twitter.com/Lkmq9q63Et
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) June 9, 2025
In a social media post late Monday, Albanese referred to the VELA, which docked in the Turkish port of Mersin on June 9, and cited reports that it was transporting steel intended for Israel Military Industries (IMI), a key supplier of weaponry used in Gaza.
The vessel’s stop in Turkey sparked alarm among rights groups, who say the shipment may violate international law and Turkey’s obligations under the Genocide Convention.
Albanese described the Israeli navy’s earlier seizure of the Madleen, a vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, as “hijacking” and accused Israel of “abducting civilians” delivering relief to a besieged population.
She connected the VELA cargo to what she termed Israel’s “ongoing destruction of Gaza,” arguing that material aid to IMI constitutes complicity in crimes against humanity.
Albanese urged Turkey to “comply with its legal obligation to end complicity” and to block the VELA from delivering its alleged cargo, calling for a halt to “trade, diplomatic, academic” cooperation with Israel in light of escalating atrocities.
Despite Turkey’s public denunciations of Israel’s war in Gaza and official announcement of a trade embargo, commercial ties reportedly remain robust, and Israeli-linked ships continue to frequent Turkish ports.
Activists have long protested this discrepancy, accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of hypocrisy for condemning Israel while maintaining trade relations, particularly in logistics, manufacturing and military-adjacent sectors.
Groups protesting the VELA at Mersin Port — including the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) — filed legal complaints demanding Turkish prosecutors seize the ship and its cargo, which they claim amounts to logistical support for genocide.
So far, the Turkish government has not publicly announced any investigation or intervention, though its anti-disinformation office has denied that VELA is carrying material for IMI.
Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued reports concluding that Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly the use of starvation as a weapon, collective punishment and mass civilian targeting, amount to acts of genocide.
UN experts have similarly warned of a “plausible risk of genocide” and accused Israeli leaders of pursuing the destruction of Gaza’s population through siege, displacement and large-scale attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Albanese’s call comes amid growing global scrutiny of nations and companies accused of facilitating Israel’s military operations in Gaza through arms sales, raw material exports and diplomatic cover.