Türkiye’s Trade Ministry on Thursday dismissed reports alleging that Türkiye continues to trade with Israel, calling such claims “lies and distortions” and confirming that all trade with Israel has been halted since May 2, 2024.
In a written statementthe ministry emphasized that Türkiye remains the most courageous country in confronting Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as what it described as genocide in Gaza, through diplomatic efforts, trade restrictions, legal measures, healthcare support, and humanitarian aid.
The statement came in response to a May 22 report by Al Jazeera English, which included a chart listing countries that exported products to Israel in 2024. The chart placed Türkiye fifth, with $2.8 billion in exports. The report and chart sparked rumors on social media suggesting that Türkiye is still conducting trade with Israel.
While Türkiye was not mentioned directly in the article, the ministry criticized attempts to create the false impression that “Türkiye continues trade with Israel in 2024.” It accused certain media outlets supporting this claim of collaborating with “a terrorist fugitive” and pledged to fight such misinformation with greater determination.
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The ministry recalled that between October 7, 2023, and May 2, 2024, as efforts to achieve a cease-fire and regional stability continued, Türkiye reduced its trade with Israel by approximately 30%
“By decision of our government, on April 9, 2024, we initially halted exports to Israel of 1,019 products under 54 categories,” the statement said. “It has been repeatedly emphasized that during the period after October 7, 2023, trade with Israel was carried out by private sector entities and foreign-capital investors. Three weeks later, on May 2, 2024, with another government decision, all exports, imports, and transit trade with Israel were completely halted across all product categories.”
“No trade with Israel can be conducted at customs or in our free zones. Since May 2, 2024, trade with Israel is zero. The reported $2.8 billion figure for Türkiye’s exports to Israel in 2024 is entirely false. Prior to our May 2 decision to halt trade, Türkiye’s exports in the first four months of 2024 totaled $1.522 billion, which includes exports to Palestine,” it added.
Türkiye announced in May 2024 that it would cut off all bilateral trade, worth $7 billion annually, until a lasting cease-fire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza, where Israel has been attacking Palestinians since Oct. 7. The move followed Türkiye’s April, 2024 decision to impose trade restrictions on 54 products exported to Israel, including cement, steel, aluminum, iron construction materials and equipment.
Screen grab shows chart ranking top exporters to Israel, with Türkiye in fifth place at $2.8 billion, accessed on May 23, 2025. (Courtesy of Al Jazeera English)
The ministry also highlighted a controlled trade mechanism developed under the “Türkiye-Palestine State Protocol.” signed on June 7, 2024.
“Exports from Türkiye to Palestine in 2024 totaled $797 million,” the ministry said. “These exports were carried out only under the conditions that the importer is Palestinian, the destination is a Palestinian address, and each application was strictly controlled and granted limited permission by our Ministry of Trade.”
A container ship “Joseph Schulte” transits Bosphorus in Istanbul, Türkiye on August 18, 2023. (AFP Photo)
Describing the report as slanderous, the ministry said the distorted information was aimed at creating the false perception that “Türkiye is still exporting to Israel.”
“It is evident that the purpose is to discredit our government’s policies and measures taken against Israel’s genocidal acts and to blatantly serve Israel’s interests,” the statement said.
“Based on 2022 data, Türkiye has renounced $9.5 billion in foreign trade with Israel—including $7 billion in exports—to support the Palestinian cause and the innocent Palestinian people. We call on the public to trust official, factual, and statistical statements made by our government and Ministry of Trade, and to disregard lies, distortions, and cherry-picked narratives promoted by influence agents and terrorist fugitives serving Israel,” it added.
May 23, 2025 12:53 AM GMT+03:00
