Turkey Cuts All Trade and Air Links with Israel Over Gaza War;

Ankara, Turkey – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday that Turkey has officially severed all economic and trade relations with Israel and closed its airspace to Israeli aircraft, in protest against the ongoing war in Gaza. Speaking at an extraordinary session of the Turkish parliament focused on the Gaza crisis, Fidan accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza over the past two years, saying it has violated basic humanitarian principles in full view of the international community. "Turkey has completely cut off trade with Israel. Turkish ships are no longer allowed to dock at Israeli ports, and Israeli planes are banned from Turkish airspace," Fidan said. Turkey had already halted direct trade with Israel in May 2024, demanding a permanent ceasefire and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. In 2023, the two nations traded goods worth approximately $7 billion, making this a significant shift in regional dynamics. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as genocide. He has also compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler—a sentiment echoed by various human rights organizations and world leaders. According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent Resul Serdar, Ankara’s strong reaction is not only about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Turkish authorities increasingly view Israel as a direct national security threat, especially in light of its military actions across the wider Middle East. “In Syria, for example, Turkey believes Israel is actively undermining the country’s post-conflict recovery efforts, especially following the removal of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 after a swift rebel offensive,” Serdar reported. “Diplomats in Ankara are warning that if Israel’s actions go unchecked, a direct military confrontation between the two nations could become a real possibility.” Turkish media had already reported last week that Israeli vessels were banned from Turkish ports, and Turkish-flagged ships were blocked from entering Israeli harbors, though no official statement had been made until now. Fidan’s statement signals Turkey’s growing alignment with the Global South and other powers that oppose Israel’s war in Gaza, especially amid continued support for Israel from the United States and the European Union. Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar noted the significance of Turkey’s decision, calling it a serious blow. “Turkey isn’t just any country. It has long been a strategic ally of Israel and a key export market. For many Israelis, it’s also been a top vacation destination,” Eldar told Al Jazeera from Kiryat Shmona. “This move is increasing Israelis’ sense of isolation, as more countries and companies cut ties.” Tensions between Turkey and Israel are not new. Relations deteriorated sharply in 2010 after Israeli forces attacked a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, killing 10 Turkish citizens. More recently, in November 2024, Turkey blocked Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s plane from entering its airspace en route to a summit in Azerbaijan. Asked about that decision, President Erdoğan remarked, “As Turkey, we must take a principled stance on certain issues.” The situation further escalated after the killing of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli forces during a protest in the occupied West Bank in September 2024. With each passing week, the diplomatic rift deepens, and Turkey’s latest measures mark one of the most severe responses by a former ally of Israel in the international arena.

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