The Turkish business world applauds the severing of trade relations with Israel

The Turkish business world praised the Trade Ministry's decision issued Thursday to halt commercial dealings with Israel until humanitarian aid is allowed to enter the Gaza Strip, calling on countries around the world to take similar decisions.

Mahmoud Asmali, President of the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (Musiad), considered the Ministry of Commerce’s decision to be one of the most important decisions in imposing the blockade on Israel.

He stated in a statement that "the world's lack of action towards the brutal Israeli aggression and the current international system's failure to find a solution to achieve justice and peace have become bankrupt."

He added: "In front of the eyes of the whole world, the state and the mentality that runs it is dragging humanity into chaos. From now on, the most important step against this mentality must be to impose an economic embargo."

Asmali said: “We support the decision to stop exports and imports of all products to Israel and we find it important to sever trade relations with Israel. This is a humanitarian gain.”

He called on all countries to follow Türkiye's example in taking similar decisions against Israel.

"A model for all countries"

For his part, the head of the Anatolian Lions Businessmen Association, Orhan Aydin, pointed out that Israel had committed an unprecedented genocide in Gaza, and he hoped that the decision of the Turkish Ministry of Trade would be a model for all countries that have a conscience and that it would spread widely.

They expressed their support for the Ministry of Commerce's decision against Israel, which caused the death of more than 35,000 Palestinian civilians and the wounding of about 78,000 Palestinian citizens.

In turn, the head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Şakip Odağić, affirmed their support for the decision to suspend trade with Israel.

He stated that Turkey demonstrated its position at the highest levels regarding the crime against humanity committed in Palestine, by completely stopping trade with Israel until humanitarian aid was allowed to reach Gaza on a continuous and sufficient basis.

On Thursday, the Turkish Ministry of Commerce announced, in a statement on the X platform, a complete cessation of commercial dealings with Israel until humanitarian aid is allowed to enter the Gaza Strip without restrictions.

Since October 7, Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 112,000 dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and about 10,000 missing amid famine and comprehensive destruction.

Israel continues its war despite the Security Council issuing an immediate ceasefire resolution, and despite the International Court of Justice requesting that it take immediate measures to prevent “genocide” and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.