According to a report by Haaretz, Israel has accused Turkey of violating international trade agreements. As a result of the freeze on trade between the two countries, Israel is considering imposing sanctions on Turkey. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is investigating the possibility of using sanctions in response to what they see as violations of international trade agreements by Turkey.
Israel has already taken some initial steps by intervening in the financial dealings between Turkey and the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Administration. This move is seen as a warning to Turkey that unilateral economic actions against Israel will be met with a similar response. Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, has stated that any economic actions taken against Israel will result in a painful response.
Turkey halted all trade with Israel in protest of its actions in the Palestinian territories, confirmed by Turkey’s trade ministry in a statement. The trade can only resume if Israel agrees to allow a sufficient amount of aid to the Gaza Strip without interruption. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed desire to pressure Israel into agreeing to a truce.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has been a major obstacle to achieving a ceasefire. Israel has stated that it will not end the conflict until it has achieved all its goals, while Hamas is pushing for a permanent ceasefire agreement that Israel does not agree to. The situation remains tense between the two countries as they navigate their differences in trade and conflict resolution.