ISTANBUL, May  3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday
said Turkey's move to halt trade with Israel was designed to force the country
to a ceasefire over Gaza.

       The decision, announced on Thursday, is the latest indication of
deteriorating relations between the two countries.

       "We have taken some measures to force Israel to agree to a ceasefire and
increase the amount of humanitarian aid to enter" Gaza, Erdogan told a group of
businessmen in Istanbul.

       "We will oversee the consequences of this step we have taken in
coordination and consultation with our business world."

       Already in April Turkey, one of the few Muslim-majority nations to
recognise Israel, announced it was restricting exports to Israel, covering 54
products from iron and steel to jet fuel.

       "We do not run after hostility or conflict in our region," said Erdogan.
"We do not want to see conflict, blood or tears in our geography.

       "We know now that we did the right thing."

       The Gaza Strip is suffering a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's war
against Hamas that has been raging since October 7, with the United Nations and
aid agencies warning of impending famine.

       The war started with Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that
resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP
tally of Israeli official figures.

       Israel estimates that 129 captives seized by militants during their attack
remain in Gaza. The military says 34 of them are dead.

       Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed more than 34,600
people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run
territory's health ministry.