15 Turkish activists detained on the Sumud Flotilla arrive in Istanbul

The plane carrying 15 Turkish activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were illegally detained by the Israeli military while sailing to Gaza with more than 40 boats to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, arrived at Istanbul Airport from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, the capital of Jordan.

The flight, which departed at 16:35, reached the airport at 19:00. Upon disembarking, the activists chanted, ‘Free Palestine from the river to the sea.’ The activists were welcomed at the Istanbul Airport VIP Lounge by their families, several officials, and a large number of citizens.

Describing his experiences after getting off the plane, activist Zeynel Abidin Özkan said, "We have arrived in Turkey as the last passengers of the Sumud Flotilla. Sumud continued its journey with determination and did not take a step back. However, the Zionist tyrant seized us in international waters in the Mediterranean, ignoring all laws, through a military operation involving our 44 ships. We spent a certain period in prison there.

We faced the prison conditions experienced by Palestinians for a very short time. The flotilla had set out with a non-violent action solely to take humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the blockade. It included politicians, artists, writers, and activists from 47 countries. Despite this, Israel attacked this flotilla, and unfortunately, the whole world watched.

The last thing civilians can do is to put their own lives on the line, stand against Israel, and seek to reach Gaza; they have done so and continue to do so. The things civilians can do have reached their limit; now states must intervene in this process. As long as Israel maintains the blockade on Gaza and carries out genocide in Gaza, a full blockade and embargo must be imposed on Israel in the air, at sea, and on land so that this massacre and this genocide stop," he said.

"THEY ARE EVEN AFRAID OF CHILDREN"

Activist Sümeyye Sena Polat, who hugged her mother after getting off the plane, said, "I especially thank the Turkish families who raised us. Because we, as Turkish children, spent our childhood and youth always learning Palestinian history and listening to Palestinian folk songs. If it weren't for their support, we would never have been able to go. But most importantly, all eyes are on Gaza; there is no stopping until there is a ceasefire. There is no stopping until we break the blockade on Gaza and free the Palestinian prisoners, until Gaza is free. Opposite my cell, there was an Israeli flag and a picture of Gaza, with ‘New Gaza’ written on a picture of a destroyed Gaza. Do you know what this is? It is Trump and Netanyahu’s plan for Gaza. We do not accept this. Even if they destroy Gaza a hundred times, we will rebuild it for the 101st time. Whether by land, sea, or air, we will continue to defend and represent Gaza. Millions of people wanted to be on those flotillas. It doesn't matter if you are there; we are all thinking of Gaza. In our prayers, in our actions, whatever it takes. All eyes must be on Gaza; the struggle did not start yesterday, it will not end today, and it will continue tomorrow. We will win because I saw how cowardly they are. Ben-Gvir came there, called us ‘terrorists,’ and said, ‘We will not treat them humanely even in prison conditions.’ But when a ‘Free Palestine’ slogan was chanted there, he retreated like a rat. They are afraid of Gazans; they are even afraid of 4-5-year-old Gazan children," she said.

Following the press statement, the activists were taken to the Council of Forensic Medicine for check-ups.