Erdogan Confirms Trade Cut with Israel Amidst Support for Palestine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on November 13, 2024, that Turkey has officially severed trade and diplomatic relations with Israel, reaffirming his country's commitment to supporting Palestine. This declaration followed Erdogan's participation in a joint summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League in Saudi Arabia.
Erdogan emphasized that trade restrictions and embargoes against Israel represent a form of struggle, advocating for active diplomacy to increase pressure on Israel. He stated, "We are in the midst of a great test for humanity that can be passed if we are part of the humanitarian alliance. Otherwise, history will judge those who stand by Israel and remain silent in the face of injustice."
Addressing allegations of ongoing trade with Israel, Erdogan insisted that these claims are aimed at undermining his government. He reiterated Turkey's position as a leading voice against Israeli actions, asserting, "We have cut off trade and relations with Israel, and we stand with Palestine until the end."
Erdogan's remarks highlight Turkey's determination to hold Israeli leaders accountable for their actions, specifically targeting Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. He noted that Turkey has been at the forefront of providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians, claiming that it ranks first in aid sent to the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, Erdogan pointed out that 52 countries and two international organizations have backed Turkey's initiative at the United Nations to halt arms supplies to Israel.
In a categorical denial of any ongoing trade activities with Israel, the Turkish Communications Presidency's Anti-Disinformation Center confirmed that Turkey has completely halted all exports and imports with Israel since May 2, 2024. The center clarified that any statistics suggesting continued trade are based on outdated data, emphasizing that Turkey has not registered any customs data related to Israel since that date.
