Israel vowed on Tuesday to take steps against Turkey, accusing it of violating trade deals between the two countries after Ankara announced trade restrictions over the war in Gaza, Agence France-Presse reported.
“Turkey is unilaterally violating the trade agreements with Israel, and Israel will adopt the necessary steps against it,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the decision.
“Erdogan has sacrificed the economic interest of Turkey’s people for the sake of his support of Hamas murders in Gaza,” Katz said on X.
ארדואן @RTErdogan שוב מקריב את האינטרסים הכלכליים של תושבי טורקיה למען תמיכתו במרצחי החמאס בעזה שאנסו, רצחו וחיללו גופות של נשים, נערות, מבוגרים ושרפו ילדים בחיים. ישראל לא תיכנע לאלימות ולסחטנות ולא תבליג על ההפרה החד צדדית של הסכמי הסחר ותנקוט נגד טורקיה בצעדים מקבילים שיפגעו…
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) April 9, 2024
“Israel will not submit to violence and extortion … and will adopt against Turkey similar steps that will harm the Turkish economy.”
Israel is now preparing an “expanded list of products” it intends to stop importing from Turkey, the ministry said, including construction materials like steel and cement.
Once allies, Israel and Turkey have had rocky relations over the past 15 years.
The two countries restored full diplomatic ties in 2022, but since the war in Gaza broke out in October, relations have deteriorated.
Erdoğan has defended Hamas as “a liberation group,” even though it is blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States.