Turkey Suspends Trade with Israel, Condemns Gaza Aggression

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemns Israel's ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip, calling it "unfathomable" for Turkey to remain silent in the face of such actions. In a decisive move, Turkey has suspended all with Israel, worth approximately $9.5 billion annually, until a permanent ceasefire is reached and uninterrupted humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza.

Why this matters: Thetrade suspension has significant economic implications, potentially affecting the global economy and trade ties between countries. Moreover, Turkey's strong stance against Israel's aggression may inspire other nations to take similar actions, leading to a shift in the global political landscape.

The Turkish Trade Ministry announces the suspension of all export and import operations with Israel, citing the country's "aggression against Palestine in violation of international law and human rights." Trade Minister Omer Bolat emphasizes that the suspension will remain in effect until Israel's bombardment of Gaza ceases and adequate humanitarian assistance is provided to the beleaguered enclave.

President Erdogan accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being "relentless" and responsible for the massacre of Palestinian women and children. "Some steps could have been taken for the Türkiye-Israel relations, but Israeli PM Netanyahu is relentless, responded by massacring Palestinian women and children in the Gaza Strip," Erdogan states. He further blames Netanyahu's actions for making a possible rapprochement between Turkey and Israel impossible.

The ongoing conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health authorities report that at least 34,622 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and 77,867 injured since October 7, 2023. The violence has displaced 85% of Gaza's population internally, with acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. The United Nations reports that 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, with an interim ruling in January ordering Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and ensure humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, announces that Turkey will join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the court.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticizes Turkey's trade suspension, accusing President Erdogan of behaving like a dictator and disregarding the interests of the Turkish people and businesses. Katz instructs the Foreign Ministry to create alternatives to trading with Turkey, focusing on local production and imports from other countries.

The trade halt is estimated to affect $5.4 billion in Turkish exports to Israel and $1.6 billion in imports. Top Turkish exports to Israel include steel, vehicles, plastics, electrical devices, and machinery, while imports are dominated by fuels. Turkish exporters are now seeking ways to send goods to Israel via third countries to mitigate the impact of the suspension.

The conflict in Gaza continues with no immediate end in sight, and Turkey's strong stance against Israel's aggression and its commitment to supporting the Palestinian people have put the two countries on a collision course. The international community watches closely, with calls for a peaceful resolution and the protection of civilian lives growing louder each day. The outcome of this diplomatic and economic confrontation between Turkey and Israel may have far-reaching consequences for the stability of the region and the lives of those caught in the crossfire.

Key Takeaways

• Turkey suspends $9.5 billion in trade with Israel over Gaza aggression.
• Trade suspension to remain until permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid allowed.
• Turkey accuses Israel of violating international law and human rights.
• Conflict in Gaza has killed 34,622 Palestinians, injured 77,867, and displaced 85% of population.
• Turkey to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at International Court of Justice.