Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday that Turkey has cut all trade and relations with the Israeli occupation, affirming his country’s unwavering support for Palestine.
His statements were made to reporters on his return from Saudi Arabia, following his participation in the joint emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League.
Erdoğan added, “Trade restrictions and sanctions on Israel are part of our approach to this struggle. It is essential to adopt an effective diplomacy that isolates Israel across all domains to increase diplomatic pressure. We are facing a major humanitarian test, one we can overcome only by joining the humanitarian alliance. Otherwise, history will judge those who support Israel and remain silent in the face of oppression.”
Erdoğan also addressed allegations of continued trade between Turkey and Israel, explaining that such claims aim to undermine the current Turkish government.
He highlighted that Turkey has issued the strongest global response to the injustices of the occupation, taking concrete steps, including the cessation of all trade relations.
He continued, “We have severed all commercial ties with Israel, and we stand with Palestine until the very end.”
Erdoğan affirmed that the “People’s Alliance” (a coalition of the Justice and Development Party and the Nationalist Movement Party) remains resolute in its stance to cut ties with Israel, emphasizing that Turkey will continue along this path.
He added, “We will hold Netanyahu and his associates accountable for their actions under the law.” He also stressed that Ankara is committed to maintaining pressure on the occupation, taking actions grounded in international law.
In this context, Erdoğan noted that Turkey leads the list of nations providing the most humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. He pointed out that 52 countries and two international organizations have supported Turkey’s initiative at the United Nations to prevent supplying the Israeli occupation with arms and ammunition.
On Monday, Turkey categorically denied allegations of ongoing commercial activities with the occupation, confirming that it has entirely halted all imports and exports with Israel since May 2.
In a statement from Turkey’s Directorate of Communications, the Center for Combating Media Disinformation clarified that all claims regarding ongoing trade between Turkey and Israel are unfounded.
The center stated in an announcement on the “X” platform that, “Since May 2, 2024, Turkey has fully ceased any exports or imports with Israel, including all types of goods, and no customs data has been recorded concerning this since then.”
The center added that the statistics cited in certain media reports, which mentioned continued trade under Israel’s code 624, are inaccurate, clarifying that these data refer to transactions conducted before May.
