Palestine refutes allegations of Turkish companies trading with Israel

Trade between Türkiye and Israel, which came to a halt following the Gaza attack, remains banned – including shipments from Turkish ports. Some groups in Türkiye claim that trade with Israel is still continuing through Palestine.

In particular, people question why the iron/steel and construction materials included in the released data were sent to Palestine, where destruction is rampant.

Palestinian National Economy Minister Mohammed Al Amour announced that Türkiye has exempted Palestinian territories from its trade ban with Israel, following a formal request from the Palestinian government.

Amour’s key statements

• “We asked the Turkish government to exempt the Palestinian territories from Türkiye’s decision to ban trade with the Israelis.”
• “We have been trading with Türkiye for a long time and we need Türkiye’s basic products for the survival of our people.”
• “Some of our imports from Türkiye were coming from the Israeli market and through Israeli traders. After this was banned, all transactions in the Palestinian market started to be made through Palestinian traders, and therefore figures increased.”
• “I would also like to draw attention to voices that irresponsibly make baseless allegations against the Turkish government, which only serves the Israeli government and support the Israeli war against our people.”

Trade exemption ensures essential supplies

Amour emphasized the importance of maintaining trade with Türkiye, noting that Palestinian territories have relied on Turkish products for many years.

“We have been trading with Türkiye for a long time and we need Türkiye’s basic products for the survival of our people,” he said while attending the 40th Ministerial Session of the OIC Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul.

The Palestinian minister praised Türkiye’s longstanding support, particularly under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during this critical period. He highlighted how Türkiye’s assistance has helped ease the impact of the war on the Palestinian population.

Background on Türkiye’s trade ban with Israel

Türkiye had imposed export restrictions on Israel at the direct command of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May. The Ministry of Trade officially took action. To date, Israel has not implemented any of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the U.N. General Assembly, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

These resolutions obliged Israel to reach a cease-fire and allow the uninterrupted provision of all essential humanitarian assistance, including medical supplies and health care, to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 

These resolutions, in particular those of the UNSC and the ICJ, are legally binding.

Türkiye has announced that it will follow the implementation of these resolutions. In this regard, Türkiye has decided to restrict exports of certain product groups to Israel as of April 9, 2024.

However, Amour noted that some Palestinian imports from Türkiye previously came through Israeli traders, and the trade ban initially affected these transactions. Following discussions, the Turkish government agreed to exempt the Palestinian territories, allowing goods to be traded directly.

Amour outlined the mechanisms put in place to regulate the flow of goods. “We agreed on a mechanism to ensure that Turkish goods not covered by the export ban reach the Palestinian market under specific regulations approved by the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy,” he said. These measures include strict oversight to prevent any unauthorized distribution of Turkish products.

Direct trade benefits Palestinian market

The minister stated that after Türkiye’s ban on exports to Israel, transactions in the Palestinian market shifted to being managed exclusively by Palestinian traders. “Previously, some of our imports were made through the Israeli market and Israeli traders. Now, with this shift, all trade is handled through Palestinian traders, leading to increased figures,” Amour added.