Turkey Ceases Trade Relations with Israel in Response to Gaza Aid Blockade

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has announced a suspension of exports and imports with Israel due to the worsening situation in Gaza, halting all trade transactions immediately. This decision will be strictly enforced until Israel guarantees an uninterrupted supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israel’s foreign minister criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his actions, accusing him of behaving like a dictator and neglecting the interests of Turkish businesses and citizens. In response, Israel is exploring alternative trade routes to minimize the impact of these measures.

Despite the heated exchange, the trade volume between Turkey and Israel was a substantial $6.8bn in the previous year. Turkey initiated these restrictions last month, citing Israel’s interference in humanitarian efforts for Gaza as the reason for their actions.

President Erdogan confirmed that Turkey had reduced its trade relations with Israel, signaling a shift in their economic partnership. However, he did not explicitly mention a complete cessation of trade between the two countries.

Source: News Agencies