President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkiye’s move to halt trade with Israel is designed to force the country to a ceasefire over Gaza, AFP reports.

“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.”

“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.”