Zorlu Energy, a subsidiary of Zorlu Holding—one of the Turkish companies with the most investments in the occupying state of Israel, primarily in power plants—announced that it has sold all its shares in the Dorad Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant, completely withdrawing from energy production in Israel. This decision is a victory that demonstrates the effectiveness of exposure and boycott campaigns in regards to BDS Turkey and the solidarity movement with Palestine.
Zorlu Energy and the Zorlu group, which have supplied energy to the occupying state for years and did not halt production even after the Gaza genocide began, were constantly exposed by various Palestine solidarity groups after BDS Turkey drew attention to their business partnership with the occupation. Numerous protest actions were held at the Holding’s buildings in Istanbul and Ankara, as well as at the Zorlu Performing Arts Center, which serves to cover up this complicity through the entertainment industry and art events. Boycott calls began to gain traction domestically and internationally. While the Zorlu group’s complicity in occupation and genocide was also notable in non-energy production sectors, consumer boycotts were being discussed against Vestel, a company within the Holding that produces most commonly found Zorlu products, from white goods to household electrical appliances.
Although Zorlu Energy announced its withdrawal from the Ashdod and Ramat Negev plants in May 2024 citing a “medium-term goal of transitioning to renewable energy,” it had continued to hold its shares in the Dorad Plant. This plant meets 6% to 8% of the occupying state’s electricity needs, and its customers include Israel Aerospace Industries, the Israeli “Defense” Ministry, and bases of the occupation army used in the Gaza genocide. Following public pressure generated by BDS Turkey’s persistent calls and the growing backlash from international pro-Palestine artists who heeded boycott calls by canceling their concert programs at Zorlu PSM, Zorlu Energy issued a new statement. It claimed it had “no authority to make or enforce any decisions” with its 25% minority shares in Dorad and that it was “continuously working to divest these shares from its portfolio at the earliest opportunity.” With this statement, while attempting to absolve itself by asserting it had “no decision-making power,” the company effectively admitted its complicity in the occupation and genocide to date.
Finally, Zorlu Energy sold its 10% stake in March 2025 and the remaining 15% in July, thus announcing it had terminated all its activities related to electricity production and sales in the region.
Although the Holding’s official statements do not mention occupation or genocide, it is not difficult to see that one of Zorlu Holding’s aims—which has been reporting continuous losses since mid-2024 and whose shares have lost 30% of their value in a one-year period when the Istanbul Stock Exchange index rose—is to move away from the focus of public backlash. Zorlu Energy’s decision to sell its remaining shares in Dorad and end all energy investments in the occupying state is a BDS victory demonstrating the success of long-term, targeted struggle.
Zorlu Holding remains a boycott target
However, even though its direct energy investments in the occupying state have ended, this does not include a guarantee that it will not engage in direct or indirect partnerships with the capitalist class of the occupying state. Companies such as Zador Israel Ltd., established by Zorlu Energy and based in Israel, as well as Zorlu Energy Solutions (ZES) Israel Ltd. (subsidiary of Electrip Global B.V., 49.9% owned by Zorlu) and Zorlu O/M Energy Facilities Operation and Maintenance Services Inc. appear to still be active in the occupying state of Israel.
Furthermore, Zorlu Energy remains one of the two sponsors listed on the homepage of the Israel Turkey Business Council and Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the “counterpart organization” of the Turkey-Israel Business Council, which operates under the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK)—described as a “commercial diplomacy organization” coordinated by the Republic of Turkey’s Ministry of Trade. Rakel Darsa from Zorlu Energy still appears among the organization’s Board of Directors members.
Additionally, the Zorlu group is a 60% shareholder partner in a company called AYESAŞ, which operates in the fields of defense technologies, security software, and UAVs. The company’s other 40% shareholder partner is L3Harris, which for years has supplied weapon equipment and surveillance technologies to the occupying state of Israel, including weapon release technologies for F-35 aircraft. AYESAŞ is the sole manufacturer of some parts for the F-35 aircraft, the main air power of the occupation army.
As seen, the ties between Zorlu Energy & Zorlu Holding, and the occupying state and its capitalist class are long-term and strategic in nature. Beyond the fossil fuel plants being transferred, their joint investments in areas such as “renewable” energy, weapons, military-purpose information technologies, and institutional relationships like those in the Business Council show that the Zorlu group continues to be complicit in the crimes committed against the Palestinian people. As long as this complicity continues, Zorlu Holding and its companies will remain targets for boycott.
