Summary
- Türkiye announced it has completely suspended trade with Israel.
- Although bilateral trade volume reached US$7 billion in 2023, trade has been fully suspended since May 2024.
- The measure was described as part of comprehensive economic measures in response to Israel's Gaza war.
"Some ports and airspace closed"
Türkiye has completely halted trade with Israel in response to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip and has banned Israeli ships from calling at its ports.
On the 29th (local time), according to Reuters, dpa and other outlets, Hakan Fidan, Türkiye's foreign minister, explained measures related to the Gaza war in the Turkish parliament and said, "We have completely halted trade with Israel."
Minister Fidan said, "We have closed our ports to Israeli ships. We will not allow Turkish ships to call at Israeli ports," and added, "Türkiye will not allow cargo ships carrying weapons and ammunition to Israel to dock at our ports." He also added, "We will not allow aircraft to fly through our airspace."
Reuters reported that regarding the remark, Turkish diplomatic officials explained, "Minister Fidan meant aircraft of the Israeli government and aircraft transporting weapons or ammunition; this does not apply to commercial flights."
Minister Fidan described the decision as part of comprehensive diplomatic, legal and economic measures the government has prepared in response to Israel's Gaza war. Türkiye has strongly criticized Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, calling them "genocide" (mass slaughter).
Trade between Türkiye and Israel amounted to US$7 billion in 2023 (about ₩9.7 trillion), but trade between the two countries has been completely suspended since May 2024 following the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com
Korea Economic Daily
hankyung@bloomingbit.ioThe Korea Economic Daily Global is a digital media where latest news on Korean companies, industries, and financial markets.
