• Turkey has completely severed trade ties with Israel, banning all Israeli ships from its ports.
• The Turkish government has announced restrictions on Israeli military aircraft entering its airspace.
• Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, describing them as genocidal.
• This move enhances Turkey’s pressure campaign against Israel, aligning with calls for international measures.
• Official and military Israeli flights have been barred, though commercial flights are still permitted.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday that the country has closed its ports and airspace to Israeli vessels and aircraft. This decision comes amid soaring tensions due to Israel's military actions in Gaza, which Fidan characterized as "genocide" against Palestinians. He stated, "We have completely cut our trade with Israel. We do not allow Turkish ships to go to Israeli ports," during an extraordinary session of the Turkish parliament, according to TRT Global, Middle East Eye, Dawn, Al Jazeera, and Channel News Asia.

Under the newly implemented measures, not only are Turkish ports closed to Israeli ships, but the airspace has also been restricted. Fidan confirmed that this includes any cargo of arms designated for the Israeli military, emphasizing that all direct trade ties with Israel have ceased following previous calls for international intervention. "We are not allowing container ships carrying weapons and ammunition to enter our ports, and airplanes to go into our airspace,” he reiterated, as reported by Reuters and India Times.

Fidan's condemnation of Israeli actions has intensified Turkey's longstanding diplomatic rift with Israel, especially since the conflict in Gaza has drawn widespread international scrutiny and criticism. With calls for broad international sanctions against Israel gaining traction, the Turkish foreign minister also urged Islamic nations to unite against actions considered aggressive and inhumane, as highlighted by sources from South China Morning Post and Middle East Eye.

The implications of this significant policy shift signal a broader geopolitical realignment, as Turkey increasingly perceives Israel as a national security threat due to its military engagements beyond Gaza. Turkish officials expressed concern about potential military confrontations should hostilities continue unchecked, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Reuters.