According to Israeli publication Globes, Turkish ports have been instructed to halt cargo shipments to the ports of Haifa and Ashdod, while the unloading of cargo arriving from Israel has also been suspended.
Citing two high-ranking sources in Turkey, Bloomberg.com reported that Ankara has ceased trade relations with Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of violating agreements by blocking spoilage for Israeli imports and exports.
Katz expressed his condemnation in his X-blog, stating, "This is exactly how a dictator behaves, disregarding the interests of his people and Turkish entrepreneurs, and ignoring international trade agreements." Additionally, Katz stated that he directed the director-general of his department to collaborate with other departments in seeking alternative trade options with a focus on local producers and imports from other countries.
It's worth noting that in early April, Globes reported that Turkish companies exporting goods to Israel were unable to pay export duties on the Turkish customs website. Globes stated that there are no alternative payment methods available, and the issue is specific to exports to Israel. Consequently, cargo ships serving trade routes between Israel and Turkish ports are currently unable to set sail.
