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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan holds a press conference in Ankara on April 8, 2024.
Istanbul/London CNN —
Turkey announced export restrictions to Israel after Turkey’s foreign minister accused Israel of refusing a request for airlift assistance to Gaza.
Turkey’s Trade Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that it had banned the export of 54 items, including potential products, condemning Israel’s actions that impede Gaza residents’ access to “the most basic food, medical care and supplies.” Announced. To be used for military purposes or construction.
“This decision will remain in force until Israel declares an immediate ceasefire in Gaza within the framework of its obligations arising from international law and allows the full and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. ” the ministry said.
Some of the items listed in the statement include steel, aluminum, cement and electrical wire.
At a press conference in Ankara late Monday, Turkey’s foreign minister said Turkey was taking “a series of new measures against Israel” after Israel rejected a request to join the operation in support of Jordan. said. “Today we learned that our request, which was welcomed by the Jordanian authorities, was rejected by the Israeli side,” Hakan Fidan said.
“There is no reason for Israel to block our efforts to airlift aid to starving Gazans,” he continued.
Israel’s Coordinator of Territorial Government Activities, which controls access to Gaza, did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on Turkey’s claims.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said in a statement on Tuesday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “once again sacrificing the economic interests of the Turkish people to support Hamas.”
Katz said he had instructed Israel’s Foreign Ministry to draw up an “extensive list” of Turkish products that Israel would ban in response. Israel will also ask the United States and other allies to “stop investing in Turkey and block the import of products from Turkey.” It also plans to appeal to the U.S. Congress to “impose sanctions accordingly.”
“Israel will not succumb to violence or intimidation, nor will it remain silent about unilateral violations of trade agreements,” Katz said.
According to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Gaza Strip, Turkey is the largest donor to Gaza, along with the United Arab Emirates.
In the view of Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the newly announced export restrictions are not enough. In a statement Tuesday, the CHP criticized the Turkish government for continuing to trade with Israel despite publicly condemning the attacks on Gaza.
“We call on governments to immediately cease doing business with countries that support the attack on Gaza and turn a blind eye to injustice and oppression,” Volkan Demir, CHP vice-chairman for trade policy, said in a statement. ” he said.
Lauren Izso in Tel Aviv and Anna Cooban in London contributed to this article.
