Turkey will impose restrictions on the export of products from 54 different categories to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza, the Turkish trade ministry has said.
The ministry said the measures would take effect immediately, adding that the restrictions would include iron and steel products and construction equipment, among other things.
“This decision will remain in place until Israel declares a ceasefire immediately and allows adequate and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the ministry announced on social media.
The announcement from Ankara comes after Israel denied Turkey’s request to join airdrops of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza on Monday.
Israel did not immediately explain why the request was rejected, with its refusal leading to Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, warning: “There is no excuse for Israel to block our attempt to drop aid to starving Gazans.”
The US started dropping deliveries of aid into Gaza by air in March, with the Netherlands, France, Spain and other countries contributing to the humanitarian effort.
Turkey, which has backed steps to have the Israeli leadership tried for genocide at the World Court, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict, which, according to the Gaza health ministry, has seen over 33,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since 7 October.
