Turkey has suspended all trade with Israel over its offensive in Gaza, citing the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in the Gaza Strip.
Turkey’s Commerce Ministry said the measures would remain in place until Israel allowed an “uninterrupted and sufficient flow” of aid to Gaza.
Trade between the two countries was worth almost $7 billion last year.
Israel’s Foreign Minister accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of behaving like a ‘dictator’.
Israel Katz said on X that Erdogan “ignored the interests of the Turkish people and businessmen and ignored international trade agreements.”
He added that he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to find alternatives to trade with Turkey, focusing on local production and imports from other countries.
In a statement, Turkey said the trade suspension included “all products.”
“Turkey will strictly and decisively implement these new measures until the Israeli government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
In 1949, Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel. But relations have deteriorated in recent decades.
But in 2010, Turkey cut diplomatic ties with Israel after 10 pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed in clashes with Israeli commandos who boarded a Turkish-owned ship trying to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Relations were restored in 2016, but both countries expelled each other’s top diplomats two years later in a dispute over Israel’s killings of Palestinians during protests at the Gaza-Israel border.
Mr Erdogan has become increasingly sharp in his criticism of Israel since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year.
In January, he said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launching in response was “no less than what Hitler did.”
Mr Netanyahu responded: “Erdogan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds, who has a world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his rule, is the last person who can preach morality to us.”
Israel is increasingly criticized for conditions in the Gaza Strip. A UN-backed study last month found that 1.1 million people were facing catastrophic hunger and that famine was imminent in northern Gaza in May.
On Thursday, the White House said a pier built by the US military to ease the flow of aid to the area would be open within days.
Israel denies there has been a curtailment of aid deliveries and blames the UN for failing to distribute aid to those in need in Gaza.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed about 1,200 people and took 253 others hostage.
More than 34,500 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
