Erdoğan Vows Gaza Support, After Years of Profiting from Israel Trade
President Erdoğan's recent pronouncements to 'stand with Gaza' and 'monitor Israel' (Daily Sabah) arrive amidst a humanitarian catastrophe. Yet, this rhetoric conveniently overshadows Turkey's economic entanglement with Israel. In 2023, Turkey remained Israel's largest trading partner in the region, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $6.8 billion ( Middle East Institute ). This includes
vital goods like cement, steel, and agricultural products—materials directly supporting both Israel's economy and, ironically, its ongoing military operations. One might wonder if Erdoğan's 'monitoring' comes with a significant profit margin, or if his 'standing with Gaza' allows for simultaneous commercial thriving with its besieger. This performative outrage offers a perfect distraction from
Turkey's own complicity, allowing him to play both regional champion and economic partner without skipping a profitable beat.