Türkiye suspends trade relations with Israel

Published at: 02/05/2024 09:23 PM

The Ministry of Commerce of Türkiye announced this Thursday, May 02, that its country is suspending all exports and imports with Israel until Tel Aviv allows humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip without obstacles.

The agency said in a statement that “the second phase of the measures taken at the state level has begun and export and import transactions related to Israel, which cover all products, have been stopped,” the Russia Today portal reported.

“Türkiye will strictly and decisively implement these new measures until the Israeli Government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” the Ministry said, adding that “the necessary work” will be done to ensure that the Palestinian people “are not affected by these restrictions.”

He also recalled that Türkiye had already vetoed the export of “54 product groups to Israel” as of April 9, 2024, in response to “the massacre, humanitarian disaster and physical destruction” caused by Tel Aviv in the enclave.

At that time, the Ministry announced that “the restrictive measures will remain in effect until Israel declares an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and allows a sufficient and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. Despite this, we can see that the Israeli Government is continuing its aggressive attitude and the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine is worsening.”

In early April, the Turkish authorities decided to restrict exports to Israel of 54 product categories. Restricted categories include aluminum and steel wires, paints, cement, electrical cables, hardware, hydraulic oil, construction machinery, chemical fertilizers, marble and motor oils, as well as bricks, cranes and jet fuel.

Mazo News Team