Ankara, Turkey, August 29, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of tensions over the war in Gaza, Turkey has announced it will completely sever all economic and trade relations with Israel and has closed its airspace to Israeli aircraft. The decision, announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, represents a significant hardening of Ankara’s stance and follows months of escalating rhetoric and diplomatic pressure.
Key Headlines
* Trade Ban Made Official: Turkey has officially cut off all trade with Israel and barred Israeli vessels from using its ports, a move that follows months of informal restrictions.
* Airspace Closed to Officials and Military: The ban on Israeli aircraft from using Turkish airspace is primarily directed at official government and military flights, though it does not affect commercial flights.
* A “Terrorist State Mentality”: Fidan justified the measures, accusing Israel of a “terrorist state mentality” that is defying international order and committing “reckless attacks.”
* Global Call to Action: The Foreign Minister called on other countries to halt the supply of weapons and ammunition to Israel and to suspend the country from international organizations like the UN.
During an extraordinary session of the Turkish Parliament, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivered a powerful address, announcing the comprehensive nature of the new measures. He stated, “We have totally cut our trade with Israel. We do not allow Turkish ships to go to Israeli ports. We do not allow their planes to enter our airspace.”
The move builds on earlier actions, including a ban on all direct trade with Israel that was imposed last year. However, this new announcement makes the restrictions official and extends them to maritime and air traffic. While some flight trackers showed Israeli commercial airlines still flying over Turkey, Turkish diplomatic sources clarified that the ban applies to official Israeli government flights and flights carrying weapons or ammunition.
The decision has been met with fury by Israel’s Ministry of Defense, which condemned the move. The economic consequences of the new policies are yet to be fully realized, but bilateral trade between the two nations was valued at nearly $7 billion in 2023. The closure of Turkish airspace for official flights will also add significant travel time for Israeli flights to destinations like Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Fidan’s statement and the accompanying actions are seen as a direct response to what Turkey views as an unacceptable escalation of the conflict in Gaza and a humanitarian crisis fueled by the blocking of aid. The move also signals Turkey’s broader concerns about what it sees as Israel’s expanding influence and aggressive policies across the Middle East.
