Turkey has responded to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip by stopping all trade with Israel, as reported by financial service Bloomberg citing two Turkish officials familiar with the matter. This decision has escalated tensions between the two countries, with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressing anger over Turkey’s actions. Katz accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of breaking agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports, calling him a dictator who disregards the interests of the Turkish people and business people.
In response to Turkey’s trade stop, Israel is seeking alternatives for trade by focusing on local production and imports from other countries. Israel aims to emerge from this situation with a stronger economy despite the trade restrictions imposed by Turkey. Additionally, Turkey announced its intention to join South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel, further straining relations between the two countries.
The legal details of Turkey’s application to join the genocide lawsuit are still being finalized, with South Africa previously suing Israel for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention in the Gaza war. Israel has denied accusations of genocide, citing the right to self-defense against extremist Palestinian organizations like Hamas. Trade between Israel and Turkey, which was worth $6.8 billion in 2023, has been impacted by the recent trade restrictions imposed by Turkey.