Due to the "humanitarian tragedy" in Gaza, Turkey halts all trade with Israel.

Turkey has cut off all trade with Israel, blaming the "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories. The Israeli foreign minister has strongly criticised Turkey's decision.

Turkey's trade ministry announced late on Thursday that all export and import operations pertaining to Israel had been suspended.

"Until the Israeli government permits an unbroken and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Turkey will strictly and decisively implement these new measures."

After the limits were initially made public, Israel Katz, the foreign minister of Israel, charged that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, was operating in a "dictatorial" manner.

Tensions between the two once-close friends will likely increase as a result of the row; they have been getting worse since the beginning of the Gaza crisis.

Since October 7, when Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,136 Israeli citizens and kidnapped 250 more, Israel has launched soldiers into Gaza and blasted the region, killing over 34,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry administered by Hamas.

Early in April, Turkey's commerce ministry issued export restrictions to Israel, prohibiting the sale of construction equipment and iron and steel items. In 2023, the two nations' trade volume was $6.8 billion.

According to Katz, Erdoğan is "violating agreements by obstructing ports for Israeli exports and imports."

"This is how a dictator behaves, ignoring international trade agreements and the interests of Turkish people and businessmen," he declared.

Katz stated that Israel would make an effort to purchase goods from other nations and produce goods locally to make up for any lost goods.

Katz attacked Erdoğan last month for his choice to make public his most recent meeting—which took place in Istanbul—with Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas's politburo.