Turkey halts trade with Israel amid Gaza crisis

Turkey has decided to stop all trade ties with Israel in response to what it calls a "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in Gaza. The Turkish trade ministry announced that it has ceased all exports and imports to and from Israel, covering all products.

Trade stoppage due to humanitarian concerns

The decision to halt trade comes as Turkey demands uninterrupted and sufficient humanitarian aid be provided to Gaza. This move aims to pressure the Israeli government to allow the flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza without interruption.

The trade volume between Turkey and Israel was $6.8 billion in 2023. Last month, Turkey imposed trade restrictions on Israel, alleging that Israel prevented Ankara from participating in aid air-drop operations for Gaza and conducted offensive actions in the region.

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International dispute over trade restrictions

Israel's foreign minister accused Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan of disregarding agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports. He criticized Erdogan's actions as those of a dictator, ignoring the interests of Turkish people and businessmen and violating international trade agreements.

In response to Turkey's trade stoppage, Israel's foreign ministry is exploring alternatives for trade, focusing on local production and imports from other countries. This escalation highlights the tension between Turkey and Israel over the Gaza crisis and their respective positions on humanitarian aid and trade restrictions.

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