Are shipments being made to Israel? DMM denies, Metin Cihan shares 'evidence'

As videos regarding claims that "thermal underwear was sent from Turkey to Israel" circulated on social media recently, the Presidential Communications Directorate's Center for Combating Disinformation denied the allegations.

The following statement was issued by the DMM:

"The claim that 'thermal underwear was sent from Turkey to the Israeli army,' related to some images shared on social media, is not true. According to a circular published with the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on December 4, 2021, it has become mandatory to add the phrase 'Made in Türkiye' instead of 'Made in Turkey' on goods produced in Turkey and exported abroad. It has been determined that the images in question are not current and were shared for the purpose of manipulation."

RESPONSE TO THE DENIAL

Journalist Metin Cihan responded to the DMM's denial using information he obtained from open sources.

Cihan stated the following:

"The Communications Directorate is either incompetent or pursuing disinformation. The first image is from the video. It says 2023 on the right edge. I identified the manufacturer. The other 3 images are from the manufacturer's page. In the last image, it says 2023-2024 on the left edge. All of them have the 'made in turkey' label. #stopshipmentstoisrael"

ERDOĞAN FAMILY FILED A LAWSUIT

On November 29, after Cihan brought up allegations that shipments were being made to Israel, AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family filed a criminal complaint against Metin Cihan.

In the criminal complaint filed with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was requested that a lawsuit be filed against Cihan for the crimes of "insult" and "slander." Upon the complaint, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation.