In a significant move escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel, Ankara has announced a complete cessation of all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday. The decision, declared by the Turkish trade ministry, is justified as a response to the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” unfolding in the Palestinian territories.
The trade ministry’s statement outlined the comprehensive nature of the halt, covering all products and transactions related to Israel. This suspension of trade will be rigorously enforced until the Israeli government permits an uninterrupted and adequate flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to Turkish authorities.
The economic relationship between the two nations has been substantial, with a trade volume reaching $6.8 billion in 2023. However, recent tensions have strained these ties. Last month, Turkey imposed trade restrictions on Israel, citing Israeli obstruction of Ankara’s participation in aid air-drop operations for Gaza and its offensive actions in the region.
Israel’s response to Turkey’s latest move has been swift and critical. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan of violating agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports. Katz condemned Erdogan’s actions, characterizing them as dictatorial and detrimental to both Turkish interests and international trade agreements.
Expressing Israel’s resolve to mitigate the impact of the trade halt, Katz announced plans to explore alternative trading avenues, emphasizing local production and imports from other countries. This retaliatory stance signals a potential shift in Israel’s economic strategy vis-à-vis Turkey.
Leave a Reply