Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan rejects any proposals that involve the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, regardless of who proposes it.
* Opposes any proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza
Türkiye has reaffirmed its full suspension of trade with Israel, with the foreign minister announcing that Turkish ships will no longer be allowed to dock at Israeli ports and Israeli aircraft will be denied access to Turkish airspace.
Speaking at an extraordinary session of the Turkish Parliament on Friday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that Türkiye reduced its trade with Israel by around 30% in the seven-month period between Oct. 7, 2023, and May 2, 2024.
“On April 9, 2024, the Turkish government halted exports of 1,019 products in 54 product groups,” he added.
Speaking further, As of May 2, 2024, exports, imports, and transit trade with Israel remain completely suspended across all product groups, with no trade taking place through customs or free trade zones—bringing trade with Israel down to zero
He also said that “there is no other country which has completely stopped its trade with Israel,” adding that container ships which carry weapons to Israel “are not allowed in our ports or flights in our airspace.”
Fidan stressed that Israel has been “committing genocide in Gaza for the past two years, ignoring basic humanitarian values right before the world’s eyes”.
‘Darkest Chapters in History’
With over 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza having been killed since October 2023, Fidan said the atrocities committed in Gaza “have been recorded as one of the darkest chapters in human history.”
The foreign minister noted that Turkiye opposes any proposal that envisions the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, calling such plans “invalid.”
Fidan described the Palestinian resistance as a struggle that “will alter the course of history, become a symbol for the oppressed, and shake the foundations of a decaying order.”
He also warned Israel’s ongoing attacks threaten to engulf the entire region, saying: “Israel’s reckless attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran are the clearest sign of a terrorist state mentality defying international order.”
The Anadolu news agency reported that during the session, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus also called for “concrete steps” against Israel, including suspending its memberships in international organizations such as the UN, until it abandons “genocidal policies.”
According to The Jerusalem Post, Fidan’s statements followed reports that Turkish port authorities “have begun informally requiring shipping agents to provide letters declaring that vessels are not linked to Israel and not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for the country.”
“The sources said the harbor master’s office had verbally instructed port agents to provide written assurances, adding that there was no official circular on the issue,” the report stated.
Ongoing Genocide
Since reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has continued its bloody aerial bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians.
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 63,000 Palestinians, with more than 159,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since.
In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.
Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.
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