Contrary to Ankara’s political rhetoric on the war in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, Turkish imports from Israel rose by 60.5 percent from October to November, according to official figures, as the country’s trade relations with Tel Aviv come under scrutiny.
Israel began pounding Gaza after Hamas militants carried out an unprecedented attack in the country on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostage. Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks on Gaza have so far claimed the lives of more than 24,000 people, according to the local authorities, in addition to leading to vast destruction in the enclave.
According to Alaattin Aktaş, a columnist from the Ekonomim news website, citing data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the import figures from Israel in November stood at $127.7 million, up from $79.5 million in October. This increase came at a time when tensions in Gaza were escalating, raising questions about the consistency of Turkey’s political actions with its trade policies.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been vocal in condemnation of Israel, labeling it a “terrorist state.” Despite this, the data reveal that country’s imports from Israel significantly increased right after the recent conflict started.
Throughout the year, the trade balance between Turkey and Israel has been in Turkey’s favor. However, in November, imports from Israel constituted 42.4 percent of the total trade volume, more than any other month.
In a recent interview Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated that trade between Turkey and Israel had decreased by more than 50 percent between October 7 and December 4. Bolat attributed this decline to a boycott in Turkey against brands seen as supporters of Israel. However, these claims are at odds with the actual trade figures reported.
On Friday Minister of Transport Abdülkadir Uraloğlu revealed that between October 7 and December 31, 2023, an average of eight ships per day, totaling 701 voyages, were made from Turkish ports to Israel.
Critics have pointed out the government’s contradictory actions, with investigative journalist Metin Cihan highlighting ongoing business relations between certain Turkish companies and Israel. According to Cihan, companies linked to Erdoğan and his allies continued trading with Israel even as the president publicly championed the Palestinian cause.
Cihan’s revelations on X shed light on the involvement of companies such as Limak Holding, MNG Holding and Kolin Holding in trade activities with Israel. These companies, known for their government connections, allegedly used their ports for shipments to Israel and provided services to Israeli government tankers.