Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestine has urged, on Monday, Turkish authorities to prevent VELA, a Liberian-flagged container ship currently docked in Mersin (Mêrdîn), from continuing its voyage to Israel, claiming it is carrying military-grade steel destined for Israeli forces amid the war in Gaza.
“I urge the Turkish authorities to investigate and, if confirmed, stop this ship and its illegal cargo from reaching Israel,” Albanese wrote on social media. “To stop and counter Israel’s crimes, including the siege and the criminalisation of aid, it is even more urgent for States to comply with their legal obligation to end complicity—trade, diplomatic, academic, etc.”
According to maritime tracking data and investigative reports by The Ditch, the VELA is carrying at least 15 containers of steel reportedly destined for Israel Military Industries (IMI), a state-owned Israeli defence company that manufactures armoured vehicles, munitions, and other weaponry.
The ship is owned by Greece-based Holler Shipping and operated by Costamare Shipping, also headquartered in Greece. It departed Barcelona in early June and is scheduled to proceed to Ashdod, Israel.
Albanese’s call comes amid heightened scrutiny of global complicity in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 54,000 Palestinians and left more than 125,000 wounded since 7 October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The VELA has previously faced protests in Australia, where port workers refused to load Israeli ZIM Lines containers onto the vessel over similar concerns about arms deliveries.
The Turkish government has yet to comment on the UN rapporteur’s statement. Albanese’s intervention adds pressure on Ankara, which has condemned Israeli actions in Gaza but continues trade relations.
