Economic Challenges Between Turkey and Israel
According to the Turkish government, as of May 2, 2024, no customs procedures have been carried out for exports or imports between Turkey and Israel, with the sole exception being trade with Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation. In an official statement released on May 22, 2025, Turkey’s Ministry of Commerce strongly denied reports of continued trade with Israel and emphasized that all imports, exports, and transit of goods between the two countries had been halted since the beginning of May.
However, statistical data published by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2024, Israel imported over $2 billion worth of goods from Turkey. Meanwhile, an analysis of data from the first four months of 2025 indicates a sharp decline in trade volume between the two countries.
Official charts reveal that the volume of imports and exports between Turkey and Israel has experienced significant fluctuations since 2021, reaching its lowest level in 2025.
This development has occurred amid escalating tensions over the Palestinian issue and increasing global criticism of Israel’s policies in the occupied territories. Turkey has repeatedly voiced its supportive stance toward the Palestinian people and has framed the complete halt in trade with Israel within this context.
