Israel threatens to seek US pushback over Turkish export restrictions

By Emre Basaran

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israel on Tuesday threatened to hit back at Türkiye over its decision to restrict exports of certain goods, saying they will “appeal to pro-Israel countries and organizations in the US to stop investments in Türkiye and prevent the import of products from Türkiye.”

Israel will "contact countries and organizations in the US to stop investments in Türkiye and to prevent the import of products from Türkiye, and to our friends in the American Congress to examine a violation of the boycott laws and impose sanctions on Türkiye accordingly,” Israel Katz, Tel Aviv’s foreign minister, said on X.

A statement by Katz’s office said he ordered the Foreign Ministry’s economic office to “draw up an extensive list of products that Israel will prevent Türkiye from exporting to Israel.”

“Türkiye unilaterally violates the trade agreements with Israel, and Israel will take all necessary measures against it,” the statement said.

Katz also claimed on X that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “is once again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Türkiye” for his support to Hamas, which he called “murderers in Gaza who raped, murdered and desecrated the bodies of women, girls, adults and burned children alive,” referring to reports from Hamas’ cross-border attack of Oct. 7, including details that Hamas has disputed.

“Israel will not submit to violence and blackmail and will not complain about the unilateral violation of the trade agreements and will take parallel measures against Türkiye that will harm the Turkish economy,” Katz also vowed.

Earlier on Tuesday, Türkiye restricted exports of certain products to Israel until it implements a cease-fire and allows a “sufficient and uninterrupted flow" of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

“Israel continues to flagrantly violate international law and ignores the international community's numerous calls for cease-fire and uninterrupted humanitarian aid,” the Turkish Trade Ministry said in a statement.

Israel has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by Palestinian group Hamas which claimed 1,200 lives.

Much of Gaza's infrastructure has since been destroyed, and 1.9 million of its residents forcibly displaced, leaving them at risk of disease and famine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.