Israeli Foreign Minister Criticizes Turkish President Erdogan for Halting Trade Relations

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his recent decision to halt all imports and exports with Israel, effectively shutting down Turkish ports to Israeli trade. Katz went as far as calling Erdogan “a dictator” for his actions.

The tensions between the two nations escalated when Turkey cited a “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in Palestinian territories as the reason for stopping all trade with Israel. The Turkish trade ministry stated that all export and import transactions related to Israel have been halted until Israel allows an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In response to Turkey’s actions, Katz instructed Israel’s foreign ministry to explore alternative trade options with other countries, focusing on local production and imports. This move comes after Turkey imposed trade restrictions on Israel last month, citing Israel’s denial of Ankara’s participation in aid air-drop operations for Gaza and its military offensive in the region.

The trade volume between Israel and Turkey amounted to $6.8 billion in 2023, but with the recent trade halt, both nations are likely to face economic repercussions. The strained relations between the once close allies have soured further since the Gaza crisis erupted, with Hamas militants carrying out attacks on Israeli citizens, leading to a military response from Israel.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Turkey is expected to have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only their trade relations but also their diplomatic ties. The future of their relationship remains uncertain as both nations navigate through these challenging times.