The Turkish newspaper "Yeni Şafak" stated that 5 African countries have decided to end overland shipping operations with Israel and have barred its ships from heading to Israeli ports.

The Turkish newspaper added in an article titled "A new blow to the Israeli economy.. 5 Islamic countries will stop shipping goods to the occupying state," that the five countries declared their refusal to receive Israeli ships in their ports.

It noted that the five African countries made the decision during a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in the Gambian capital, Banjul.

It mentioned that the bold step taken by Turkey in severing its trade relations with Israel encouraged some Islamic countries to make similar decisions that could weaken the Israeli economy.

The Turkish newspaper did not mention the five countries that made this decision.

Turkey announced days ago the severing of its trade relations with Tel Aviv and emphasized that this decision will not be reversed until ensuring that humanitarian aid supplies to the sector are not interrupted.

The Turkish newspaper clarified that the Red Sea region has become a conflict zone and that ships can no longer sail to Israeli ports, transforming maritime trade routes with Israel towards the African coasts, reaching as far south as Africa and moving northwards via the Cape of Good Hope and sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, and passing into the Mediterranean Sea. This has exponentially increased shipping costs and caused delays in the arrival of goods to Israeli ports.

It pointed out that the shift in maritime trade routes was a direct reason for the growing importance of African ports, allowing African countries to exert pressure on Israel.