Turkiye Cuts All Trade and Air Links with Israel Over Gaza War

Web Desk

Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Turkiye has completely severed economic and trade ties with Israel, closed its airspace to Israeli aircraft, and barred maritime traffic linked to Israel in protest against what Ankara calls genocide in Gaza.

Speaking during an extraordinary session of the Turkish parliament on Gaza, Fidan said Israel has been “committing genocide in Gaza for the past two years, ignoring basic humanitarian values right before the world’s eyes.”

Trade and Airspace Blockade

Turkiye had already suspended direct trade with Israel in May 2024, demanding a permanent ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza. In 2023, bilateral trade had reached $7 billion, highlighting the scale of the economic rupture.

Now, Fidan confirmed a complete shutdown:

• No Turkish ships will dock at Israeli ports.
• Israeli vessels are banned from Turkish harbors.
• Israeli aircraft are barred from entering Turkish airspace.

Last week, Turkish media had reported the maritime restrictions, but this was the first official confirmation from Ankara.

Strained Relations and Security Concerns

Ankara has increasingly framed Israel not only as a humanitarian violator but also a national security threat. Turkish officials accuse Israel of fueling instability across the Middle East, including in Syria, where they say Israeli actions undermine recovery efforts after years of civil war.

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar noted: “If Israel is not stopped, eventually there might be a direct military confrontation between the two countries.”

Erdogan’s Strong Rhetoric

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s war on Gaza, repeatedly calling it genocide and likening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.

Turkiye has also taken symbolic measures:

• In November 2024, Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s plane was denied entry into Turkish airspace.
• Protests flared after Israeli forces killed Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the occupied West Bank in September 2024.

Global Fallout

Analysts warn that Turkiye’s move, as a long-time strategic partner and major market for Israeli goods, deepens Israel’s growing isolation. Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar said: “More and more Israelis are feeling isolated and like pariahs, as countries and companies cut business with Israel.”

A Relationship in Decline

Relations between the two nations soured as far back as 2010, after Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish citizens in a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The latest rupture may mark the deepest freeze in bilateral ties to date.