An economic aftershock has blasted open on Israel as Turkey’s commerce industry suspends “complete” trade relations with Israel ahead of ascending human right violations in Gaza
Israel’s economic infrastructure is under heavy bombardment after Turkey confirmed it will halt all trade with Israel until the country allows uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The matter is stipulated irrevocable and the pause went into effect earlier Thursday.
The persistent advocacy by nation states to deteriorate amiable ties with Israel comes ahead of the highly contagious famine which is lingering in Gaza in an aftermath of Israelian strikes which has shredded crucial public-service institutions like hospitals, education centers, grocery stores and eating stalls in Gaza. The absolute rupture of these key pieces of architecture has left incalculable bellies empty and has left many prominent figures frustrated in the international corridor.
Turkey’s latest development against Israel is an added extension to outgrowing list of countries who are encouraging Netanyahu to stop weaponizing hunger in Gaza in order to seek his longtime vengeance against Hamas for October 7th attack. “Measures taken under state level, has been started, and export and import transactions related to Israel have been suspended to cover all products”.
Underlying economic disruption caused by severed trade
For a globalized civilization, import and export between countries contribute impeccably for sustaining population of a confined demographic. Israel and Turkey had traded goods worth $6.8 billion last year. But sudden suspension of cargo floating from one nation-state to another is going to hurdle Israel’s economic boon as Turkey is its sixth largest source for imports, according to Israel’s Central Statistics Bureau.
Amassing main imports from Turkey which included steel, machinery, minerals, fuels as well as food products must have contributed astoundingly to Israel’s overall energy consumption. Of the total goods traded valued at $6.8 billion in 2023, 76 percent was Turkish exports. This makes Turkey an indispensable commerce player for Israel, loosing it will welcome a hurricane of unanticipated events for Israeli economy. Most significantly it will cause logistical disruption at the cost of insufficient raw materials, forcing local units to accelerate manufacturing operations to meet consistent consumer demands.
Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz has take over his X profile to condemn the recent announcement by Turkey’s Trading Ministry, taking a direct jibe at the incumbent President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “This is a behavior of a dictator who tramples the interest of the Turkish people and business community, while ignoring international trade agreements.”
Trade dispute sets off “diplomatic-leakage”
Israel and Turkey restored diplomatic ties last August after a decade long spat and were exploring ways to reinvent peaceful cooperation until Hamas launched October 7th attack on the Jewish state. The conflict has triggered popular backlash from all Arab nations and particularly from the United States. The confrontation sparked by Hamas attack, landed Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Gaza to bring 250 hostages back and roll out a mass ground invasion.
Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to destroy Hamas organization no matter what the cost. But his pledge has costed more than 34,000 civilian lives in Gaza which is being viewed as a crime at an organizational level. Turkey has announced plans to join South Africa’s case as a plaintiff at the International Court of Justice, United Nation’s Highest Court, accusing Israel of committing unthinkable genocide in Palestinian territory. Erdogan recalling Hamas militants as “freedom fighters” and repeatedly criticizing Israel’s conduct in the war further deteriorated their diplomatic ties.
His submission against Israeli’s leadership did not stop at the trade dispute, Turkey president had hosted Hamas leader on April 20th to promise immediate aid supply to Gaza. These movements have toiled Israeli ambition to vanquish Hamas’ violent regime but the war has not reached its end yet. But Israel will actively facilitate measures to contain its bursting economy after Turkey’s trade suspension.
