Ankara - Saba:
The administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denied reports that Turkey exported $393.7 million worth of goods to Israel in the first five months of this year.
The Counter-Disinformation Center, affiliated with the Turkish Presidency's Communications Directorate, said in a statement: "The claim that Turkey exported $393.7 million worth of goods to Israel during the first five months, which has been circulating in some media outlets and on social media, is a complete lie and misinformation."
It continued: "This deliberate distortion is nothing more than an attempt to manipulate public opinion and discredit our country's official institutions. Pursuant to the decision issued on May 2, 2024, the Turkish state has suspended exports, imports, and transit operations for all product categories with Israel, both at customs and in free zones."
It added: "To date, not a single customs declaration for exports or imports from our country to Israel has been issued, and not a single shipment has arrived in our country from Israel."
The statement added: "On the other hand, the trade mechanism established under the Turkey-Palestine Protocol signed between the Ministry of Trade and the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy to meet the urgent needs of the State of Palestine continues to operate effectively. Last year, Turkish exports to Palestine amounted to $797 million, but this trade with the Palestinian people is conducted through ports controlled by Israel."
The statement concluded by emphasizing Turkey's opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza, saying: "On this occasion, we reaffirm our strong condemnation of the genocide being committed by Israel in Palestine and reaffirm our unwavering support for the Palestinian people."
In May 2024, Turkey announced that it would halt its $7 billion annual bilateral trade with Israel until a permanent ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid were secured for Gaza. This announcement followed Turkey's decision last April to impose trade restrictions on 54 product categories, including cement, steel, aluminum, and other construction materials.
Earlier, the Turkish Ministry of Trade denied allegations of continued trade between Turkey and Israel, describing them as "based on lies and misinformation." The statement emphasized that "Turkey, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been leading the most courageous struggle against Israeli aggression against Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria for more than a year and a half, particularly the genocide in Gaza."
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