One of the export ports in Türkiye (Anatolia)

Istanbul

- Official data issued by the Turkish Statistics Authority revealed the continuation of exports to Israel, including ammunition, gunpowder, and weapons parts, since the beginning of January of this year.

According to official data published by the Authority yesterday, Monday, according to the Foreign Trade Statistics Database, during the past two months Turkey exported ammunition and weapons to Israel worth two million,919,58 Turkish liras ($90,000), and the value of exports of gunpowder and explosive materials amounted to one million,940,36 million. Turkish Lira ($60,000), while chemical exports, which included biodiesel, fire extinguishers, disinfectants, and insecticides, recorded a value of 33 million 75 thousand and 119 Turkish Liras ($1,300,000).

These data show a significant decrease in the volume of Turkish exports of this type to Israel, as exports of ammunition and weapons amounted to 23 million 567 thousand and 746 Turkish liras ($736 thousand), and exports of gunpowder and explosive materials amounted to 13 million 695 thousand and 460 Turkish liras ($427 thousand). Chemical exports amounted to 484 million and 112 thousand and 9 Turkish liras ($15 million).

A protest stand in Istanbul in support of Gaza (Anatolia)

Anger and denunciation

Despite the decline in exports from Turkey to Israel, a state of denunciation and heated debate has escalated among social media platform pioneers.

These pioneers called for an immediate cessation of these exports in response to the “massacres” committed by the Israeli occupation army in the Gaza Strip, which is subjected to Israeli aggression for the 172nd day in a row, causing the death of more than 32,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 74,000 others, most of whom are children. And women.

They believed that those involved in these exports to Israel were indirectly contributing to supporting military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Commenting on the export data, Mahmoud Shaheen, Vice President of the conservative Hoda Bar Party, expressed to Al Jazeera Net his growing concern about the continuation of Turkish exports to Israel. He pointed out that his party had previously issued repeated warnings about the dangers of these exports, and had submitted several requests to the Turkish government to end them, but the party did not receive any response.

Shaheen explained that the latest data, published by the official statistics authority of the Turkish government, show the continuation of these exports, which represents - in his words - a clear challenge to the feelings of the Turkish people and everyone who supports the Palestinian cause. He renewed his call on the Turkish government to take urgent action to stop these exports, warning against Its continuation may make Turkey a partner in what is happening to the Palestinian people.

It is noteworthy that the "Huda Bar" party has been leading a popular and political campaign for months to demand the cessation of trade exchange with Israel, and the party has previously supported President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Statement of the Turkish Ministry of Defense

Later on Tuesday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that it is not possible for Turkey to carry out any actions that harm the Palestinians or to participate in such actions.

She stressed that Turkey always stands by Palestine, noting that the Turkish Ministry of Defense does not participate in any activity with Israel, especially military training and maneuvers and cooperation in the field of defense industries.

The Ministry explained in its statement that Israel is continuing its hostilities in the Gaza Strip without distinguishing between civilian targets, refugee camps, places of worship, schools and hospitals.

Omar Polat said that trade exchange between his country and Israel has decreased by 50% (French)

Exports after the Al-Aqsa flood

Trade Minister Omar Polat said, in a previous interview with Al Jazeera Net last November, that since last October 7 - that is, after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, which was followed by an Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip - until last December 4 Trade between Ankara and Tel Aviv decreased by more than 50%, and this decline continues.

Figures received from the Turkish Statistical Institute revealed that October 2023 witnessed an increase in Turkish exports to Israel by 29% compared to the same period in 2022, while imports witnessed a noticeable decrease by 59%.

The authority said that Israel ranked 13th on the list of countries that import Turkish products most during the year 2023, accounting for 2.1% of total Turkish exports.

However, the Turkish Exporters Association announced a remarkable growth in exports to Israel during last February, as the announced data showed an increase of 26% compared to last January, rising from $318 million to $400 million.

Source: Al Jazeera