Turkish exports still reach Israel as goods sent to Palestine skyrocket

Turkish businesses are continuing to export to Israel by using Palestinian Authority customs after Ankara halted direct trade with the country in May over the Gaza war, data released this week indicates. 

The Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) recorded a whopping 423 percent increase in exports to Palestine in the first eight months of 2024, jumping from $77m in the same period last year to $403m this year.  

August was particularly noteworthy, as Turkish exports to Palestine during that month surged by 1,156 percent, climbing from $10m last year to $127m. It suggests that the trend of using Palestine to maintain trade with Israel has been accelerating. 

Following significant losses in Turkey's local elections in March, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has intensified its criticism of Israel and taken a series of measures against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration.

Erdogan's government has assessed that its attempts to approach Palestine and Israel's war on Gaza in an even-handed manner had negatively affected its core voters, who are devout Muslims concerned about the ongoing conflict.

Middle East Eye previously reported that despite Ankara's total ban on trade with Israel, commerce between the two was ongoing through third countries like Greece. 

Turkish businessmen say that commerce always finds a way to work around trade bans.

A Turkish business person who had been facilitating trade between Turkey and Israel confirmed to MEE that exports were finding a way to reach Israeli buyers after sanctions.

"As senior Turkish officials say in private gatherings, the government cannot fully track the final destination of Turkish exports since they have proper paperwork indicating they are destined to Palestine," the person said.

"The trade ministry or customs aren't detectives that can investigate the final destination. The main issue for Turkey was to make a stance against Israel on the international stage and they are still making a stance, which still counts." 

The data indicates that specific goods recorded particularly high increases this year.

For example, steel exports to Palestine surged 8,722 percent in the first eight months of the year, increasing from $430,000 to $37.9m. In August alone, the rise was 125,437 percent year-on-year, from a mere $17,400 to $21.8m. 

The exports of chemicals jumped 3,388 percent in August year-on-year, from $428,000 to $16m, while mining products increased 62,174 percent to $6.2m. Similar trends were seen among exports of iron, fruits and vegetables, and air conditioning units.