Turkey Imposes Export Restrictions to Israel Amid Gaza Ceasefire Demands

Turkey’s Trade Ministry announced on Tuesday its decision to impose restrictions on the export of products from 54 different categories to Israel until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza. The move comes in response to Israel’s refusal to participate in an aid air-drop requested by Turkey. Effective immediately, the measures will encompass various items including iron and steel products, construction equipment, and machinery, as stated by the ministry.

France’s foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, emphasized the need for pressure, and potentially sanctions, to compel Israel to open crossings for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Speaking to RFI radio and France 24 television, Sejourne underlined the necessity of employing multiple levers of influence, including the possibility of sanctions, to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid across checkpoints. He cited France’s prior proposal for European Union sanctions targeting Israeli settlers engaged in violence in the West Bank, affirming France’s commitment to securing access to humanitarian aid.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of 33,207 Palestinians over six months, leaving the majority of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents homeless and many facing the threat of famine. Israeli tallies attribute 1,200 deaths in southern Israel to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which served as a catalyst for the conflict.