Turkey on Thursday suspended all imports and exports to Israel citing the country's ongoing military action in Gaza and vowed to continue to impose the measures until the Israeli government allows the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.
A Turkish Trade Ministry statement said "export and
import transactions in relation to Israel have been stopped, covering all
products."
Turkish officials would coordinate with Palestinian
authorities to ensure that Palestinians are not affected by the suspension of
imports and exports, the ministry said.
The ministry described the step as the "second
phase" of measures against Israel, adding that the steps would remain in
force until Israel "allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of
humanitarian aid to Gaza."
Last month, Turkey — a staunch critic of Israel's military
actions — announced that it was restricting exports of 54 types of products to
Israel, including aluminum, steel, construction products and chemical
fertilizers. Israel responded by also announcing trade barriers.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz
accused Turkey of blocking Israeli imports and exports from Turkish ports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "is breaking
agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports," Katz wrote
on the social platform X.
Katz said he had instructed officials to "immediately
engage with all relevant parties in the government to create alternatives for
trade with Turkey, focusing on local production and imports from other
countries."
Erdogan's government, which suffered major setbacks in local
elections in March, is faced with intense pressure at home to halt trade with
Israel. Critics accuse the government of engaging in double standards by
leveling strong accusations against Israel while pressing ahead with commercial
relations.
Turkey recognized Israel in 1949. Under Erdogan, tensions
have ebbed and flowed between the countries. The Turkish leader stepped up his
criticism of Israel following its military offensive in Gaza, accusing it of
carrying out war crimes and genocide. He has described the Hamas militant
group, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the
European Union, as freedom fighters.
This week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey
had decided to join the legal case filed by South Africa against Israel at the
International Court of Justice and would soon submit a formal request to
intervene in the case.
South Africa filed a case at the ICJ accusing Israel of
breaching the Genocide Convention with its military offensive against Hamas.
Israel denies that its military campaign in Gaza amounts to a breach of the
Genocide Convention.
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