‘Palestine exempted from Türkiye’s trade ban at our request’

• ‘We have been doing business with Türkiye for a long time and we need Türkiye’s basic products for the survival of our people’

• ‘Part of our imports from Türkiye came from the Israeli market and via Israeli traders. After this was banned, all transactions in the Palestinian market began to go through Palestinian traders, and that is why the numbers increased.”

• “I would also like to draw attention to voices who are irresponsibly making baseless accusations against the Turkish government, who only serve the Israeli government and support Israel’s war against our people.”

ISTANBUL

After Türkiye halted trade with Israel, exports to Palestine increased, said Mohammed Al-Amour, the Palestinian Minister of National Economy.

“After Türkiye banned exports to Israel, this trade was limited to Palestine, and so there was an increase in Türkiye’s exports to Palestine. Because part of our imports from Türkiye came from the Israeli market and through Israeli traders,” he told Anadolu.

Al-Amour made these remarks while attending the 40th ministerial session of the Standing Committee on Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul.

He expressed his gratitude for the support of the Turkish people, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government and thanked them for their long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people, especially during this critical phase when the Palestinians are facing a brutal war in the Gaza Strip and the West. Bank.

“Their brotherly attitude and support has had a positive impact on the spirit of the Palestinian people in all regions, and their continued support has made a great impact in mitigating this war against our people,” the minister said.

He appreciated Türkiye’s efforts to put international pressure on Israel to stop this brutal war.

“In fact, the trade relationship between Palestine and Turkiye is historic and long lasting. There was a relationship where most of the goods needed by the Palestinian people were imported directly through Palestinian merchants or through other companies. Due to the geographical reality and the fact that Palestine is still occupied, we used and still use Israeli ports.”

‘Palestine exempted from trade ban at our request’

The minister noted that after the war on Gaza, the Turkish government suspended trade relations with the Israeli government due to President Erdogan’s decision to deter and pressure the Israeli government to stop the war.

Recalling that the decision was made on May 2, al-Amur said: “We assessed the situation in terms of mechanisms to ensure that the Palestinian market is not deprived of Turkish goods. As a result of studies on this issue, we agreed on a specific mechanism for regulating the trade relationship and asked the Turkish government to exempt the Palestinian territories from Türkiye’s decision to ban trade with Israelis. We have agreed on a mechanism to monitor this process and ensure that Turkish goods not covered by the Turkish export ban to the Palestinian market are subject to specific regulation in Palestinian law and within the mechanisms approved by the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy. ”

Noting that more detailed work is being done to ensure that goods exported from Turkey only reach the Palestinian market, Al-Amour said the parties agreed on these mechanisms during their meeting with Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat on June 8.

‘We need Türkiye’s basic products for the survival of our people’

Al-Amour said that they need the support of Arabs and Muslims to provide the elements that will ensure the survival of the country’s economy in the shadow of the war that Palestine is exposed to, noting: “We have traded with Türkiye for a long time. and we need Türkiye’s basic products for the survival of our people.”

He thanked Trade Minister Omer Bolat for his continued support of exports to Palestine through the ministry’s implementations and instructions.

He said that during today’s meeting a decision was made to increase trade and export quotas between the two countries, adding that the export of Palestinian dates to Türkiye supports Palestinian producers who are at war.

‘Products that were previously purchased via Israel are now imported directly’

The minister said that before the war and the new implementation of Türkiye, trade between Palestine and Türkiye took place through Israel.

“However, after Türkiye banned exports to Israel, this trade was limited to Palestine, leading to an increase in Turkish exports to Palestine. Because part of our imports from Türkiye came from the Israeli market and through Israeli traders. After that was banned, all transactions in the Palestinian market began to go through Palestinian traders, and so the numbers increased. Therefore, there is a noticeable increase in trade relations between Türkiye and Palestine.”

Noting that today they had the opportunity to thoroughly discuss all the details with Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Al-Amour said that they confirmed the new mechanisms implemented and that they discussed the deterrence of these mechanisms so that Turkish products only reach Palestinian consumers in reach the Palestinian territories. market.

‘These products reach the Palestinian market according to strict procedures’

Al-Amour said that Turkish goods are now controlled by a mechanism implemented by consensus and agreement between the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy and the Turkish Ministry of Commerce, saying: “These products reach the Palestinian market within the framework of strict procedures . ”

Stressing that there is an export code in the commercial tradition, he said: “Before Türkiye’s decision to ban exports to Israel, there were codes 624 for Israel and 625 for Palestinians. Some of our imports are carried out with the Israeli code. After Türkiye’s measures, the Israeli code was stopped and all Turkish exports to Palestine took place only through the Palestinian code, and we brought the issue under control with this mechanism. We also have internal procedures at the Ministry of Economic Affairs regarding Palestinian importers. The primary and ultimate purpose of these procedures is to ensure that the goods coming from Türkiye through the Palestinian trader reach the Palestinian territories for consumption. That is the purpose of the procedures.”

‘Unfounded accusations only serve the Israeli government’

The minister said they want to take economic relations between Türkiye and Palestine to the next level.

“If Allah allows, this unfair war against our people will stop and a positive environment will be created to intensify and deepen this relationship with Türkiye. We are currently establishing the Jenin Industrial Zone, a joint industrial zone between Türkiye and Palestine. The creation of this industrial zone was interrupted in the past, but we have laid new foundations to bring it to a stage of completion as quickly as possible and bring together the joint Palestinian-Turkish industry,” he said.

He noted that the horizon of mutual economic cooperation between Türkiye and Palestine will grow even further in the coming period.

“There are great investment opportunities in Palestine, and we expect Turkish businessmen to invest in Palestine. When this unfair war ends and the political horizon becomes visible, if Allah allows it, there will be great cooperation between Turkish and Palestinian businessmen under the auspices of the governments of both countries.”

Al-Amour also said that some unfounded accusations had been made against the Turkish government and concluded his words by saying: “These only serve the Israeli government and support the Israeli war against our people.”

*Writing by Gokhan Ergocun

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