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Yeneroğlu asks Minister Bolat about Israel: 'Are the claims that Palestine is being used only as camouflage true?'

DEVA Party Istanbul MP Mustafa Yeneroğlu has submitted a written parliamentary question for Trade Minister Ömer Bolat to answer, following allegations that trade with Israel is continuing via Palestine.

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DEVA Party Istanbul MP Mustafa Yeneroğlu asked Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, "Are the claims that trade between Turkey and Israel is being conducted via Palestine and that Palestine is being used only as camouflage true?" 

Yeneroğlu's written parliamentary question, which includes 4 questions for Minister Bolat to answer, is as follows:

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been continuing its attacks in the Gaza Strip for a year, indiscriminately targeting the Palestinian people and civilian settlements, ignoring international law and committing crimes against humanity. Tens of thousands of people have been massacred in these attacks. Israel continues its attacks, which aim to make life impossible in Palestinian territories.

Over the past year, it has emerged that Turkey continued its trade with Israel. In fact, this situation was officially acknowledged, and as of April 9, 2024, approximately 6 months after the attacks began, trade with Israel in certain goods was banned and halted by the Ministry of Trade. It was later announced that trade had been completely stopped. However, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute's (TÜİK) data for August 2024, while trade with Israel appears to have come to a standstill, our trade with Palestine has increased astronomically, and there has been an abnormal rise in the sale of goods such as 'barbed wire' and 'iron and steel' in particular. According to TÜİK data, it is alleged that the specified goods were sent to Israel via Palestine. There appears to be a record level of exports starting from August 2024. This situation has been openly discussed on social media and in the Israeli media, and has been covered in newspapers. This picture strengthens the claims that Turkey is continuing its trade with Israel.

In this context,

1. While the State of Palestine is under a total blockade by Israel and it is only possible to send goods to Palestine with Israel's permission, has our country received orders for products such as barbed wire and iron and steel?

2. If Palestine did not place these orders, why has there been a record-level increase in the sale of these goods, which are stated to have gone to Palestine according to Turkish Statistical Institute data as of August 2024?

3. Is there any evidence showing that these goods reached Palestine?

4. Are the claims that trade between Turkey and Israel is being conducted via Palestine and that Palestine is being used only as camouflage true? If not, what is the reason for the abnormal increase in our exports to Palestine over the last year? 5. Have any changes been made to bills of lading where the destination was listed as Palestine? If so, how many were changed and why?