Ankara has completely severed all commercial and economic ties with Israel, closing its airspace to Israeli flights and ports to Israeli ships, in response to the Jewish state’s military campaign in Gaza. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced these measures during an address to the national parliament, accusing Israel of committing genocide.
The decision marks the latest escalation in Turkey’s longstanding opposition to Israeli actions in the region, following months of tension over the conflict in Gaza. The move has raised concerns about potential economic repercussions, as both countries rely on trade and transportation links. The Turkish government has emphasized that the restrictions target Israeli military assets and weapons shipments, though some Israeli officials suggest the measures are not entirely new.
A Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters that the flight restrictions only target official Israeli flights and planes with weapons or ammunition, not routine transit by commercial carriers. The agency also reported that Turkish port authorities are now informally requiring shipping agents to attest that vessels are not linked to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for the country.
However, an Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post that Turkey had “already announced severing economic relations with Israel in the past, and the relations continued,” apparently referring to Ankara’s suspension of imports and exports in May. The minister’s comments are the latest indication of deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel, which have been strained by the war in Gaza. The conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, prompting a retaliatory operation against the Palestinian enclave.
Turkey has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, which Israel denies. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the butcher of Gaza,” at one point suggesting that the scope of his war crimes surpassed those committed by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
In 2023, Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel, and in 2024, it severed all diplomatic ties.