High tension between Türkiye and Israel: Ankara blocks trade with Tel Aviv

The frost falls between Türkiye And Israel. The Turkish Ministry of Commerce has interrupted the exports and the imports with Tel Aviv, essentially blocking any economic-commercial relationship with the Jewish State.

The measure, linked to the war in Gaza, provoked the anger of the Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katzwho called President Erdogan “a dictator” That “is breaking international trade agreements” And “ignores the interests of the Turkish people and businessmen“.

What happens between Türkiye and Israel
As reported by Bloombergwhich cited two Turkish officials, the move was not formally announced even though the Turkish Ministry of Trade itself had already adopted a sanctions package trade with Israel. They had ended up in Ankara’s sights 54 products and raw materials, including ceramics, fertilizers, marble and steel. That decision, like the last one just adopted, was also linked to the war against Hamas in Gaza and aimed to put pressure on Israel to reach a ceasefire.

“The government has decided to move to the second phase of the application of sanctions against Israel and block the import and export of all products. The sanctions will remain in force until the passage of humanitarian aid to the country is guaranteed Gaza Strip“, reads the statement. The Israeli government will work to create immediate alternatives for trade with Turkey, increasing local production and finding other suppliers, Minister Katz said.

For the Turkish Statistical Institute, trade between the two countries was worth it 6.8 billion dollars in 2023 (76% were Turkish exports). Turkey’s largest exports to Israel in 2023 were iron and steel. The largest import, however, was represented by refined petroleum products.

Erdogan’s move
The timing was not accidental. The move in fact came the day after Turkey announced its intention to join the South Africa at the Supreme Court of the United Nations as a plaintiff country to accuse Israel of having committed a genocide In the Palestinian territory. We recall that Israel and Turkey re-established diplomatic relations last August, after a decade of tensions. Tel Aviv and Ankara were exploring ways to increase mutual cooperation until Hamas attacked the Jewish state and sparked war.

At that point the positions of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanhyauand the Turkish president, Recep Taiyyp Erdogan, have returned to the antipodes. Erdogan called Hamas militants “freedom fighters” and has repeatedly criticized Israel’s conduct in the war. Unlike the United States and the European Union, Turkey also does not consider the pro-Palestinian group a terrorist organization.

On the diplomatic front, as reported by the newspaper Rai Al Youm, Turkey has begun to covertly move on the mediation dossier between Israel and Hamas and is trying to open a new door of sponsorship for mediation between the two sides with the aim of resolving outstanding issues. Although Hamas leaders have confirmed that they want to remain in Doha, sources report that Haniyeh has decided to stay in Turkey indefinitely, after Erdogan offered it to him.

There are reports of meetings scheduled by Haniyeh with Palestinian and Arab officials who do not have good relations with Qatar and therefore prefer not to visit Doha.