ISTANBUL: Türkiye has reaffirmed its complete suspension of trade with Israel, with the foreign minister declaring that Turkish vessels will no longer be permitted to dock at Israeli ports, and Israeli aircraft will be barred from Turkish airspace.
Speaking during an extraordinary session of the Turkish Parliament on Friday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of committing atrocities in Gaza, describing the situation as “one of the darkest chapters in human history.”
“Israel has for two years been committing the crime of genocide in Gaza, disregarding basic human values before the eyes of the world,” Fidan said.
He added that Palestinians’ resistance against Israel would “alter the course of history, become a symbol for the oppressed, and shake the foundations of a decaying order.”
Fidan rejected any proposals that involve the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, stressing: “Regardless of who proposes it, such a plan is invalid for us.”
The minister went on to condemn Israel’s actions beyond Gaza, referencing strikes in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran as “the clearest indication of a terrorist state mentality that openly defies the international order.”
Turkey and Israel have had a free-trade agreement in place since 1997, with steel, oil and plastic among the major trade items. Bilateral trade stood at nearly $6.8 billion in 2023, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute data. More than 75 per cent of this was Turkish exports.
