Turkiye stopped all
trade
with Israel as of Thursday, according to two Turkish officials familiar with the matter, adding to already high-running tensions between the once-close allies over the war in
Gaza
.
The move expands last month’s restriction on some Turkish exports to Israel, as
Prez Recep Tayyip Erdogan
steps up criticism of the Jewish state. Ankara hasn’t formally announced the suspension and it wasn’t clear under what conditions trade would resume.
Trade between the countries was worth $6.8 billion in 2023, according to Turkish statistical institute. “This is the behaviour of a dictator who tramples the interests of the Turkish people and business community, while ignoring international trade agreements.” Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said in a post on X.
Turkiye’s move comes a day after
Colombia Prez Gustavo Petro
announced that his country is severing all
diplomatic ties
with Israel, describing the
Israeli govt
as “genocidal”.
Colombia
is the second South American nation to break off relations with Israel after Bolivia, which cut ties in Nov over Gaza war. The Israeli govt denounced Petro’s move.
