Turkey halts trade with Israel over Gaza humanitarian crisis
Turkey has halted all trade with Israel due to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Turkish trade ministry stated that this measure will continue until Israel allows a sufficient flow of aid into Gaza.
Last year, trade between the two countries was valued at nearly $7 billion. Israel’s foreign minister criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of behaving like a dictator and disregarding the interests of Turkish people and businesses.
Israel plans to explore alternative trade options, focusing on local production and imports from other countries. Turkey’s trade suspension encompasses all products until Israel ensures adequate humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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Turkey was the first Muslim-majority nation to recognise Israel in 1949, but relations have deteriorated over the years. In 2010, diplomatic ties were severed after clashes between Israeli commandos and Turkish activists aboard a Gaza-bound ship resulted in casualties. Although relations were restored in 2016, tensions persist, with both countries expelling each other’s diplomats in 2018 following disputes over Israel’s actions in Gaza.