Turkey Has Become The First Country To Cut Off All Trade Ties With Israel Over Its Genocide In Gaza
Israeli ships are no longer allowed into Turkish ports and Turkish ships are not allowed to dock in Israel, and Turkey’s airspace will be closed to Israeli government planes and to cargo aircraft carrying weapons or ammunition for Israel.
Turkey has completely cut off all economic and trade ties with Israel over its genocide in Gaza, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan announced the move at an extraordinary session of the Turkish parliament on the topic of Gaza on Friday, Aug. 29, saying Israeli ships would no longer be allowed into Turkish ports and Turkish ships would not be allowed to dock in Israel.
He also said Turkey’s airspace would be closed to Israeli government planes and to cargo aircraft carrying weapons or ammunition for Israel.
Fidan said the decision was made due to Israel’s nearly two-year genocide in Gaza, adding that Ankara wanted to send a message to the international community that "Free Palestine" pressure on Israel must increase.
Turkey had already reduced trade with Israel and suspended direct exports and imports in May 2024.
Before Oct. 7, 2023, annual trade volume between the two countries was about US$7 billion, the equivalent of more than 70,000 average yearly salaries in Turkey.
Turkey was also one of Israel’s top 10 trading partners, and rerouting would raise costs for Israeli businesses and consumers.
Israeli officials dismissed the decision as “political theater”, saying they could reroute trade through other regional ports.
Protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza have continued across Turkey, with crowds in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir calling for a permanent boycott and chanting for further pressure on Western allies of Israel.
The measure comes as European governments debate sanctions and boycotts of Israel.
Israel has now killed more than 63,746 Palestinians in Gaza, more than 83% of whom are civilians, and Gaza City is officially in a man-made famine created by Israel.
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