Israel is considering imposing sanctions on Turkey in response to the freeze on trade between the two countries, according to a report by Haaretz. The Israeli government believes that Turkey is violating international trade agreements, prompting the Israeli Foreign Ministry to investigate the possibility of using sanctions.
As an initial response, Israel has decided to intervene in the financial dealings between Turkey and the Palestinian Authority and Gaza Administration. It remains unclear whether this intervention will affect the distribution of Turkish aid in Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that any unilateral economic action against Israel would be met with a similar and painful response.
Turkey confirmed that it has halted all trade with Israel in protest of its actions in the Palestinian territories. The Turkish trade ministry stated that trade with Israel will only resume if Israel allows a sufficient amount of aid to reach the Gaza Strip without interruption. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed the desire to pressure Israel into agreeing to a ceasefire.
Negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have been stalled due to Hamas’s demand for a permanent ceasefire, which Israel has not agreed to. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will not end until all of Israel’s objectives are achieved. Turkey’s actions are seen as an attempt to exert pressure on Israel to agree to a truce.