As Israel’s genocide in Gaza reaches its first anniversary, Turkey is still discussing whether or not trade with Israel is continuing. Although the government announced that it has been banned since April 9, evidence that trade continues through third countries has shown otherwise. The Ministry of Trade then returned to the defense that “trade is not with Israel but with Palestine.” However, according to reports, exports to Palestine, which is under Israeli occupation, have increased 14-fold in 9 months. The occupied country, which has no industry, has mostly sold steel, cement, iron, electricity and electronics, chemicals, and jewelry, according to website Lloyds bank
Increased trade during the war
Commercial ships depart from Turkish ports to Haifa Port in Israel every week. Turkey’s trade with occupied Palestine was 91 million 276 thousand dollars in the first nine months of last year, while it increased to 571 million 186 thousand dollars in the same period this year. the trade was carried out by ships that set out for Palestine changed their bills of lading in the open seas and changed their route to Israeli ports. The question posed to the picture, which drew public reaction, was ‘How is it that Palestine, which is being bombed, can increase its trade this much while the war continues with all its violence?’
Containers are going to Israel
A businessman who identified himself as Abu Khidir, who has an import and export company in Palestine, the trade said to be made from Turkey. Khidir explained that ships from Turkey to Palestine transferred containers to Israel while they were en route. He explained that only Israeli ships were allowed to receive goods from Turkey in ports under Tel Aviv control. He argued that nothing had changed in trade since the first day of the genocide.
Alleged bargaining with Netanyahu
The White House has taken action to dissuade Israel, which is preparing to strike Iran’s oil fields and which will send oil prices soaring during the election campaign. According to the alleged bargaining reported in the Israeli press, it was learned that the Biden government offered Tel Aviv to cover the cost of the operation if it hit targets other than Iran’s oil fields and nuclear facilities.
Increase in exports?
The ministry says that the trade is not with Israel but with Palestine. However, the fact that sales to Palestine have increased 14-fold in 9 months compared to the previous year and the increase in exports of products such as iron, steel, cement, and ready-made clothing is striking. This situation brings to mind the question,
“Who is buying these while the massacre is ongoing?”
As Israel’s genocide against Palestinians leaves its first year behind, the Netanyahu government is once again doing what it wants. The AK Party government, one of the governments that has spoken out most against the brutality, says that trade relations between the two countries have been completely terminated in response. However, official data shows the exact opposite. While it was revealed that 18 ships went to Israel in the last month alone, the Ministry claims that the trade was not with Israel but with Palestine. However, according to the reports of the Ministry of Trade; Turkey’s exports to Palestine have increased 14-fold in 9 months. In the first 9 months of 2023, we exported 91 million 276 thousand dollars of products to Palestine, while in the same period of this year, 571 million 186 thousand dollars of products were sold. the export data raises questions in mind how goods such as steel, cement, iron, leather, electricity and electronics, carpets, ready-made clothing, chemicals, and jewelry sent to Palestine are used in an occupied country.
Turkiye’s silence on oil
Commercial cargo ships depart from many ports in Turkey for the Haifa Port in Israel every week. Companies supposedly get around this ban by changing the bill of lading (transportation document). Ships full of steel, cement, iron, carpet, minerals, and jewelry that set off for Palestine reach Israel by changing the documents. It is also a known fact that relations continue through companies established in third countries such as Greece, Romania, and Italy. Indeed, the increase in exports to these countries did not go unnoticed. The fact that Israel bans imports from Turkey in order not to lose the main materials with which it can continue its genocide, such as steel, cement, and iron, while not banning them for Palestine also strengthens the claims. Responding to criticisms regarding the departure of commercial ships, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Transport, and the Turkish Wealth Fund remain silent regarding the transportation of Azerbaijani oil to Tel Aviv via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
