Türkiye unveils exports curbs on Israel
The restrictions on exports of 54 types of products came after Türkiye vowed to implement a series of measures against Israel until it declares a cease-fire in Gaza and allows aid to flow in without interruptions
TÜRKİYE on Tuesday announced it was restricting exports of a wide range of products to Israel until it declares a cease-fire and allows the uninterrupted flow of aid to Gaza, in a significant measure after six months of relentless Israeli strikes on the Palestinian enclave.
Israel said it would respond to the measures, which include curbs on exports of aluminum, steel, construction products, fertilizer and jet fuel, with its own restrictions on products from Türkiye.
NATO member Türkiye is among the harshest critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have claimed the lives of more than 33,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities.
The indiscriminate strikes came after the Palestinian resistance group Hamas’ surprise cross-border attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has branded Israel a “terrorist state,” repeatedly calling for an immediate cease-fire and accusing it of committing genocide in its military campaign in the Palestinian enclave.
Ankara has supported steps to try Israel for genocide and sent thousands of tons of aid for Gazans.
Relations between Türkiye and Israel have been frosty for years. Trade ties between the two countries remained strong in the past but have plunged since the conflict began.
The trade restrictions came a day after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan vowed reprisals against Israel after it denied Ankara’s request to take part in an aid air-drop operation in Gaza, saying they would be implemented “step by step” and “without delay.”
The export measures were approved by Erdoğan, Fidan added.
“We will continue our support until the bloodshed in Gaza stops and our Palestinian brothers have a free Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Erdoğan said in a message on Tuesday for Ramadan Bayram, or Eid al-Fitr – the Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
The Trade Ministry said the measures would apply to the export of products from 54 different categories, including iron, marble, steel, cement, aluminum, brick, fertilizer, construction equipment and products, aviation fuel and more.
TÜRKİYE has the largest share in total annual exports to Palestinian markets when Israel is excluded, a Palestinian official said on Monday.
Rashad Yousef, director of policies and planning at the Ministry of National Economy, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that trade with Türkiye has grown significantly over the last five years regarding exports and imports.
Over the last five years, he said Türkiye has become the second source of goods in Palestinian markets after Israel.
“If we exclude Israel, Türkiye is the largest source of goods and products in the Palestinian market,” the Palestinian official said.
He noted that the Palestinian-Turkish trade volume in 2022 exceeded $900 million, representing a 12% increase over 2021 levels.
“Türkiye doesn’t only lead in exports to Palestine; Ankara also contributed to increasing the share of Palestinian products in the Turkish market,” Yousef explained.
He noted that the main Turkish exports to Palestine are iron, wood, vegetable oil, tobacco, food products and items from plastic industries. Border crossings
On the issue of border crossings, the Palestinian official said there is no Palestinian control over them, stressing that all imported goods into Palestine must pass through Israel.
“Israel has complete control over the border crossings as Palestinian imports arrive at Haifa or Ashdod (Israeli) seaports, and the goods are then transported to Palestinian territories via trucks,” Yousef said.
He said Türkiye is a multi-industry country that Palestine needs, but “Israeli restrictions and economic agreements restrict partnerships in the trade exchange between Palestine and Türkiye.”