In response to the war in Gaza, Turkey has decided to halt all import and export transactions with Israel. This decision was made in protest over the lack of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza. The Turkish trade ministry announced that all transactions related to Israel, including products, have been stopped until Israel allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of aid to Gaza. Israel’s foreign minister accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of breaking trade agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports, calling him a dictator for ignoring the interests of the Turkish people and international trade agreements.
Last year, Turkey-Israel trade was worth $7 billion, with Israel being among the top 20 destinations for Turkish exports, buying goods and services worth $5.4 billion. The top Turkish exports to Israel include steel, vehicles, plastics, electrical devices, and machinery, while Turkey’s imports from Israel amounted to $1.6 billion. In response to Turkey’s actions, Israel’s foreign minister ordered the creation of alternatives for trade with Turkey, focusing on local production and imports from other countries in order to strengthen Israel’s economy.
In addition to halting trade, Turkey previously introduced restrictions on its exports to Israel after accusing Israel of denying a request to airdrop aid to Gaza. The Turkish trade ministry condemned Israel’s actions preventing access to food, medical care, and supplies for the people of Gaza, leading to the ban on the export of 54 products. Turkey is one of the biggest donors of aid to Gaza, according to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has resulted in a high number of casualties, with Israeli attacks killing over 34,600 Palestinians, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, praised Turkey’s decision to halt trade with Israel in support of the Palestinian people.
The military assault on Gaza by Israel began on October 7 after Hamas killed over 1,200 people in Israel and abducted more than 250 others. The conflict has led to extensive destruction in Gaza, with neighborhoods turned to rubble and the threat of starvation looming. The lack of international media access hinders confirmation of the casualty figures, but the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is evident. Hamas expressed appreciation for Turkey’s support and solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of what they described as a horrific genocide. Eyad Kourdi in Gaziantep, Turkey, contributed reporting on the situation.
