Turkey: Trade will remain halted until permanent ceasefire is achieved

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 May 2024 16:08
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Among the Turkish demands to lift the trade halt is the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the achievement of a permanent ceasefire, according to Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat.

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat in an undated image. (Social media)

After announcing yesterday that Turkey will halt trade with "Israel", despite it being worth approximately $7 billion per year, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced on Friday, during a conference set to reveal April trade figures, that the trade halt will remain until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in the Gaza Strip.

Bolat emphasized, "We decided to stop exports and imports to and from Israel until a permanent ceasefire is achieved (in Gaza) and humanitarian aid is allowed without interruption."

The trade minister further stressed that "Israel's" attitude, which he described as "uncompromising", coupled with the worsening situation in Gaza's southern Rafah region, had prompted Ankara to take the decision to halt trade with Tel Aviv.

Bolat further underscored that Turkey continues its negotiations "with our Palestinian brothers on alternative arrangements to ensure that they are not affected by this decision."

An Israeli overreaction

The Israeli occupation's foreign minister responded by calling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "dictator", accusing him of ignoring the interests of the people of Turkey by restricting ports for Israeli imports and exports.

A screenshot of the Israeli minister of foreign affairs on X (X)

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted on X, "This is how a dictator behaves, disregarding the interests of the Turkish people and businessmen, and ignoring international trade agreements."

Katz said he instructed the foreign ministry to work to create alternatives for trade with Turkey, focusing on local production and imports from other countries.