Turkey has taken its most decisive steps yet in response to the ongoing war in Gaza, announcing a complete halt to trade with Israel and the closure of its airspace and ports to Israeli government planes and ships, as well as vessels carrying military cargo. The dramatic escalation, declared by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on August 29, 2025, underscores Ankara’s growing condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and signals a new phase of economic and diplomatic confrontation between the two countries.
"We have completely cut off our trade with Israel. We have closed our ports to Israeli ships," Fidan told lawmakers during an extraordinary session of the Turkish parliament focused on the Gaza conflict, according to AP. "We do not allow container ships carrying weapons and ammunition to Israel to enter our ports, nor do we allow aircraft to enter our airspace." The announcement formalizes a series of measures Turkey has gradually adopted since May 2024, when it first imposed a ban on direct trade with Israel, demanding a permanent ceasefire and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Ankara’s restrictions are sweeping. All Turkish ports are now closed to Israeli ships, and Turkish-flagged vessels are barred from calling at Israeli ports. Turkish airspace is shut to Israeli government flights and any aircraft transporting arms or ammunition to Israel. While the ban does not extend to commercial transit flights, it effectively severs official and military logistical links between the two nations. Turkish port authorities have also begun requiring shipping agents to provide letters certifying that their vessels are not linked to Israel and are not carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for the country, Reuters reported.
The impact of these measures is significant. In 2023, trade between Turkey and Israel amounted to $7 billion, making Turkey one of Israel’s largest trading partners and a key market for Israeli goods. The abrupt end to this relationship will not only affect the economies of both countries but also reverberate through regional supply chains. ZIM, Israel’s largest shipping company, warned in a filing to the New York Stock Exchange that the new Turkish regulations would "negatively impact on the company’s financial and operational results," according to AFP.
Turkey’s actions come amid intensifying criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide, likening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler—rhetoric that has further strained diplomatic ties. Ankara’s stance is echoed by Foreign Minister Fidan, who told parliament, "Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza for the past two years, ignoring basic humanitarian values right before the world’s eyes," as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The deterioration in relations is not limited to economic and trade measures. In November 2024, Turkish authorities denied Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s plane permission to cross Turkish airspace en route to an international summit in Azerbaijan. Erdogan, when questioned about the incident, stated, "As Turkey, we have to take a stance on certain issues." The move was followed in May 2025 by Turkey reportedly refusing overflight rights to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, leading to the cancellation of his planned visit to Baku, according to France 24.
For many Israelis, the rupture with Turkey is deeply felt. The two countries have a long and complex history, marked by periods of close cooperation and sharp disagreements. Turkey was once a favored summer destination for Israeli tourists, and Istanbul served as a major transit hub for flights between Israel and Europe. As Akiva Eldar, an Israeli political analyst, told Al Jazeera, "Turkey is not just another country that is deciding to cut its relationship with Israel. Turkey has been an ally of Israel for many years, a very important market to Israeli goods." Eldar added, "We feel more and more ... Israelis are feeling isolated and [like] pariahs. More and more countries and companies have decided to stop their business with Israel."
The latest Turkish measures are also seen as part of a broader strategy to increase international pressure on Israel. Ankara has called for other countries, particularly in the Global South, to follow suit and take action against Israel. According to Al Jazeera, Turkish diplomats believe that if Israel is not stopped, there could eventually be a direct military confrontation between the two countries, especially given Turkey’s concerns over Israeli activities in Syria and the wider Middle East.
Turkey’s decision to halt trade and restrict airspace and port access may also have humanitarian motivations. Fidan told lawmakers that Turkey had presidential approval to carry out air drops of aid to Gaza, pending approval from Jordan. "Our planes are ready; once Jordan gives its approval, we will be in a position to go," he said, as reported by both Reuters and The Times of Israel.
Despite the sweeping announcements, there has been some confusion over the implementation of the airspace ban. Israeli airlines reported on August 29 that they had received no new instructions from Turkish authorities and were still operating flights through Turkish airspace. "At this stage, no operational instructions have been received," Arkia, an Israeli airline, told The Times of Israel. Israir, another Israeli carrier, said, "Our flights are operating as scheduled with no changes, and we are in regular contact with the Civil Aviation Authority." A Turkish diplomatic source clarified that the ban applies only to official Israeli flights and those carrying weapons, not to commercial transit flights.
The rupture between Ankara and Jerusalem is the latest in a series of diplomatic crises. Relations soured sharply in 2010 after Israeli forces killed 10 Turkish citizens during a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. More recently, tensions have been exacerbated by the killing of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli forces in the West Bank in September 2024.
Turkey’s stance has drawn support from some quarters. Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, urged "Turkey, as well as Arab and Islamic countries and the free nations of the world, to escalate punitive measures against [Israel]" and "sever all relations with it, and work to isolate it—to compel it to halt the genocide and destruction of Gaza," as reported by The Times of Israel.
As the war in Gaza grinds on with no end in sight, Turkey’s hardening position may mark a turning point in the region’s diplomatic landscape. With trade ties severed, ports and airspace restricted, and rhetoric growing more heated by the day, the prospects for a return to normal relations between Turkey and Israel appear increasingly remote.
