Venezuelan Authorities Deny Sending Oil to Israel, Call Bloomberg Report ‘Fake’

Venezuelan authorities have denied that the country exported crude oil to Israel and rejected a Bloomberg report published on Tuesday describing such a shipment, saying the claim is fabricated.

Venezuela‘s sectoral vice president for Communication and Culture, Miguel Pérez Pirela, posted an image of the Bloomberg headline on Telegram stamped with the word “FAKE” and accused the report of spreading disinformation.

Government-funded media outlet Telesur added that the allegation conflicts with Venezuela’s diplomatic stance and record, noting that Caracas severed relations with Israel in 2009 and has repeatedly expressed support for Palestine in international forums. Telesur also said there are no official shipping records or government confirmations backing the claim.

Bloomberg originally reported on Tuesday that Venezuela was sending its first crude cargo to Israel in years, with the shipment destined for Bazan Group, Israel’s largest oil processor.

The outlet cited “people with knowledge of the deal” who asked not to be identified because the matter was not public. It said the cargo would be the first such delivery since mid-2020, citing data from energy analytics firm Kpler.

Bloomberg also reported that Israel does not disclose its crude suppliers and that tankers have sometimes disappeared from digital tracking systems near Israeli ports. It said neither Bazan Group nor Israel’s energy ministry commented on the reported shipment.

The report further linked the alleged cargo to changes in Venezuelan oil flows following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces and Washington’s stated plan to take over Venezuelan oil sales. Venezuelan officials rejected that assertion as well, describing it as false.

Venezuela ended formal diplomatic relations with Israel in early 2009 after what its government described as disproportionate military action in the Gaza Strip, and subsequently established official ties with the Palestinian Authority, recognizing the State of Palestine.

Since then, Venezuelan leaders have frequently voiced support for Palestinian rights at international forums and used foreign policy statements to criticize Israeli military operations and align with other developing nations on issues of sovereignty and anti-colonial solidarity.

Originally published on Latin Times