News
03.05.2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on Friday that his country’s complete suspension of trade exchanges with Israel until there was a “permanent cease-fire” in the Gaza Strip, as a part of the latest international sanction against Israel and one that underscores the mounting global pressure to end the war in the territory.
Turkish president said that Turkey would not resume trade with Israel until a “permanent cease-fire” in Gaza, the move came after a number of countries cut diplomatic ties with Israel
Turkey’s announcement built on statements the previous day that it had halted all trade with Israel until “uninterrupted and adequate humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza.” But even as Turkey announced the measures, Israel continued its repeated warnings that it was preparing for an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that the United Nations said on Friday could result in a “slaughter” in Gaza.
Erdogan mentioned that the Turkish move will be “an example for other countries that are disturbed by the current situation,” as well as he stressed in a statement: “We will monitor the repercussions of this step that we took in coordination and consultation with our businessmen.”
In announcing the trade suspension, the Turkish trade minister, Omer Bolat, spoke of Israel’s “uncompromising attitude.” Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told a business association on Friday that he anticipated backlash from Western countries but that Turkey had decided to “stand side by side with the persecuted.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized the step taken by the Turkish President, saying that it violated international trade agreements, while the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) praised the Turkish decision, describing it as “courageous and supportive of Palestinian rights.”
Turkey has a large trade surplus with Israel, according to the latest United Nations figures, with $5.4 billion in exports to Israel last year and $1.64 billion in imports.