Lawyers from Turkey’s opposition have spoken out against trade with Israel, voicing strong opposition.
An organization known as the Association of Solidarity for the Oppressed and Human Rights gathered in front of a court in Istanbul’s Caglayan district to demand an end to trade with Israel.
The protest comes after the association filed a complaint with the Istanbul prosecutor’s office against business professionals and companies that work with Israel.
The association said trade between Turkey and Israel had not stopped on October 7 and that it was “obvious” some goods sent from Turkey to Israel were used directly and others indirectly in the manufacture of weapons. The group said it would file complaints against “Israeli crimes” at the Istanbul Prosecutors Office and then in all port cities where goods are exported to Israel.
Former Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, the leader of the Future Party, said in December 2023 that 350 ships had arrived in Israel from Turkey over two months.
“We will save Turkish ports from this occupation. If necessary, we are ready to go and stand in front of the goods exported to Israel, and we will go from Ankara to the ports of Mersin, Izmir, and Istanbul,” he said.
The Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, has accused Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family of doing business with Israel, saying, “The businessmen are the people around Erdogan.”
Turkey’s exports to Israel fell 34 percent from $1.67 billion to $1.1 billion in the first two months of Israel’s offensive in Gaza compared to the same two months in 2022.
Turkey is the 13th largest exporter to Israel, despite the decline.
