In a strong show of support for the Palestinians in the ongoing Gaza crisis, Turkey announced on Tuesday that it will impose restrictions on exports to Israel until a ceasefire is declared and increased humanitarian aid is allowed into the besieged area. The Turkish Ministry of Trade revealed that it will no longer send items in 54 categories to Israel, including iron and steel products, jet fuel, construction equipment, machines, cement, granites, chemicals, pesticides, and bricks.

The decision by Turkey comes after the Israeli government refused to allow Turkey to airdrop aid over Gaza. The Turkish Ministry of Trade stated that "Israel continues to flagrantly violate international law and ignores the international community." The trade restrictions will remain in place until Israel meets Turkey's demands for an immediate ceasefire and ensures an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

According to Palestinian health officials, over 33,000 people have lost their lives in the six-month war, prompting outrage from many countries over the death toll and the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli attacks and the ongoing siege. Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas-led attacks on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,139 people.

In response to Turkey's announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of sacrificing the economic interests of the Turkish people for his support of Hamas. Katz vowed to take measures that would harm the Turkish economy, including banning some Turkish imports, urging US-based organizations to stop investing in Turkey, and calling on "friends in the American Congress" to impose sanctions.

The trade curbs were announced just a day after Turkey promised "step by step" reprisals against Israel for blocking Turkish cargo military planes from delivering aid to Gaza. President Erdogan emphasized Turkey's unwavering support for the Palestinians, stating that Turkey will continue to provide assistance until the bloodshed in Gaza stops and a free Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is established based on the 1967 borders. Turkey has already sent 45,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the region.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated significantly since the start of the Gaza war, leading to the withdrawal of ambassadors from both countries. President Erdogan has repeatedly referred to Israel as a "terror state" and voiced support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while condemning Israel's long-standing occupation of Palestinian territory during a hearing at the International Court of Justice.

Turkish critics have also targeted the government for its commercial ties with Israel during the war, which was seen as a contributing factor to a significant defeat in local elections. Israeli manufacturers' association president Ron Tomer highlighted the dependency on Turkey for imports, stating that around 50 percent of cement, steel, and marble imports into Israel come from Turkey. He expressed hope that the government will now take steps to reduce this dependence.

The implementation of trade restrictions by Turkey against Israel reflects a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries and further exacerbates the already complex geopolitical situation in the region.