Türkiye Suspends Trade Relations with Israel Amid Growing Tensions
Türkiye has officially announced a total suspension of trade relations with Israel, marking one of the strongest diplomatic rebukes of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, reports 24brussels.
During an extraordinary session of the Turkish Parliament on August 29, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Israeli ships would be barred from Turkish ports and that Israeli aircraft would no longer be permitted to access Türkiye’s airspace.
Fidan accused Israel of war crimes and genocide in Gaza over the last two years, labeling the current situation as “one of the darkest chapters in human history.” He firmly rejected any plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians, declaring such proposals “invalid, regardless of who proposes them.”
The Turkish Parliament also approved a motion denouncing Israel’s expanded occupation of Gaza and its actions against Palestinians. The memorandum calls for Israel’s suspension from the United Nations and other international organizations until it ceases its “genocidal policies.”
Fidan condemned Israeli military actions beyond Gaza, including recent strikes in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran. He characterized these operations as evidence of a “terrorist state mentality that defies the international order.”
This bold stance reflects Türkiye’s ongoing detachment from Israel, especially since 2023, when the two nations’ relations began to sour due to Israel’s handling of the Gaza conflict. In 2023, bilateral trade exceeded $7 billion, but that relationship has now been entirely severed.
In light of these tensions, the move comes as part of a broader call from the Global South for accountability and justice in Palestine. Fidan concluded by asserting that Palestinian resistance would “alter the course of history, become a symbol for oppressed peoples, and shake the foundations of a decaying international order.”
