Türkiye’s Presidency’s Directorate of Communications Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) on Friday rejected claims that the country exported $393.7 million worth of goods to Israel in the first five months of 2025, calling the allegation “entirely false” and part of a disinformation campaign.
“The claim, ‘Türkiye exported $393.7 million to Israel in the first five months,’ which has been circulated by certain media outlets and social media accounts, is completely false and a product of disinformation,” the DMM said in a statement.
“This deliberate distortion is nothing more than an attempt to manipulate public opinion and discredit the official institutions of our state," it added."
The DMM reminded the public that as of May 2, 2024, Türkiye suspended all export, import, and transit trade activities with Israel — without exception — at customs checkpoints and in free zones.
In May, Türkiye announced it would halted its annual $7 billion bilateral trade with Israel until a permanent ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid are secured for Gaza, where Israeli attacks have continued since Oct. 7. The announcement followed Türkiye’s April decision to impose trade restrictions on 54 product categories, including cement, steel, aluminum, and other construction materials.
“Since that date, there has not been a single customs declaration registered for export to or import from Israel, nor has there been any shipment arriving in our country from Israel. Our customs system remains closed to Israel,” the statement said.
The DMM emphasized that trade under the “Türkiye-Palestine State Protocol,” signed between Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade and the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy, remains active to meet urgent humanitarian needs in Palestine.
The directorate clarified that while Türkiye’s exports to Palestine reached approximately $797 million last year, this trade is conducted through Israeli-controlled ports. “In this context, claiming that Türkiye is exporting to Israel based on Israel’s so-called data is nothing but a smear campaign aimed at discrediting our official institutions and misleading the public.”
The statement concluded by reaffirming Türkiye’s opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza: “On this occasion, we reiterate our strongest condemnation of Israel’s genocide in Palestine and reaffirm our unwavering support for our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”
Since October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed more than 57,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local health authorities.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.