Turkey has announced a complete severing of economic and commercial ties with Israel, while also closing its airspace to Israeli government flights and arms shipments, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed Friday. The airspace closure is expected to significantly impact travel, forcing Israeli flights to countries like Georgia and Azerbaijan to take lengthy detours, adding nearly two hours to flight times. Although Israeli officials noted that Turkey has made similar declarations in the past without fully following through, this move marks an escalation in strained relations.

Reports also indicate that Turkish port authorities have quietly imposed additional restrictions on shipping. Agents are being asked to provide written assurances that vessels are neither linked to Israel nor transporting military or hazardous cargo destined for the country. According to shipping sources, these measures—though not yet formalized in official circulars—reflect another step in Turkey’s crackdown on trade with Israel, following last year’s suspension of $7 billion in commerce amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

Stay Awake. Keep Watch.

SOURCE: Jerusalem Post