Turkey also demands a ceasefire for resumption of trade with Israel
Turkey is also imposing a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as a condition for resuming trade with Israel, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat reports. The country announced on Thursday that it would immediately suspend trade pending “continuous and sufficient” humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory.
Turkey’s Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that imports and exports of all products would be halted and that the ban on trade with Israel would be “strictly and resolutely” enforced. The reason for this is the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza. The coastal strip has not received enough aid supplies since October, while Israel carries out devastating air strikes on the area.
Israel imported 4.6 billion dollars (almost 4.3 billion euros) worth of Turkish goods last year, making Turkey Israel’s sixth largest source of imports. There is a lot of criticism from the Israeli government about the Turkish decision to halt trade. The two countries have strengthened ties in recent years, but the relationship has deteriorated significantly since the war in Gaza.
The government in Ankara is one of the fiercest critics of the war. Earlier this week, she announced her intention to become a co-plaintiff in the case of South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Israel is accused of committing genocide in Gaza.
