Türkiye halts all trade with Israel over humanitarian tragedy in Gaza
Türkiye has stopped all trade activity with Israel over violence against Palestinians in Gaza, the Trade Ministry said on Thursday.
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The ministry said necessary efforts are being coordinated between the Turkish Trade Ministry and the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy to ensure that the Palestinians "who are forced to live under occupation" are not affected by these restrictions.
Trade between the two sides was worth almost $7bn last year. In a statement, Turkey said the trade suspension covered “all products”.
“Turkey will strictly and decisively implement these new measures until the Israeli government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
The Turkish government officially imposed trade restrictions on Israel on April 9, a move seen as a response to both public outcry and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
However, the effectiveness and thoroughness of these restrictions have been questioned.
The new measures, taken after six months of destruction in Gaza, were seen by many as overdue, given the significant loss of life and general public outrage in Turkey at Israel’s actions.
The move is one of the latest incidents degrading relations after Türkiye restricted exports to the country in April.
Türkiye announced Wednesday that it would join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Türkiye: Israel is a "terrorist state"
Türkiye is among the harshest critics of Israel's military actions, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan branding Israel a "terrorist state," repeatedly calling for an immediate cease-fire, and accusing it of committing genocide in its military campaign in the Palestinian enclave. Isreal reaction to Türkiye new measures
Israel’s foreign minister accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of acting like a “dictator.”
Israel Katz said on X that Mr Erdogan was “disregarding the interests of the Turkish people and businessmen and ignoring international trade agreements.”
He added that he had instructed the foreign ministry to find alternatives for trade with Turkey, with a focus on local production and imports from other countries.
The Gaza Strip is suffering a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's war against Hamas that has been raging since Oct. 7, with the United Nations and aid agencies warning of an impending famine.
Israel's Gaza offensive has killed at least 34,596 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
