Daijiworld Media Network - Ankara
Ankara, Aug 30: Turkiye on Friday announced it is closing its airspace to Israeli government planes and any cargo carrying arms for the Israeli military, while also barring its ports to maritime trade between third countries and Israel.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the announcement during a special parliamentary debate on Gaza in Ankara, adding that the move builds on a ban on direct trade with Israel imposed in May 2024.
“We have completely cut off our trade with Israel. We have closed our ports to Israeli ships,” Fidan said. “We do not allow container ships carrying weapons and ammunition to Israel to enter our ports, nor do we allow aircraft to enter our airspace.”
Turkiye had severed direct trade ties with Israel last year, demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and immediate entry of humanitarian aid. In 2023, trade between the two nations had reached $7 billion.