By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL-On Friday, Head of Turkiye’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) Bulent Yildirim told the media that a flotilla of aid, comprised of volunteers and activists from 12 countries will go directly to the blockaded Gaza Strip. He said the International Freedom Flotilla is going to Gaza to “bring down” Israel’s blockade on Gaza with three ships named Anadolu (Anatolia), Akdeniz (Mediterranean) and Vicdan (Conscience). Yildirim commented: “We have completed purchasing three vessels so far, for the flotilla. Since these ships will sail directly to Gaza, it is very difficult to obtrain them.” He referred to the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident where IHH sent an aid ship along with five civilian ships known as the “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” to attempt to break an Israeli blockade then. It ended in an Israeli military raid which killed 10 pro-Palestinian activists, all Turkish which led to Turkiye breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel after that incident. Israel’s lack or remorse and refusal to make any reparations for nine years, kept Turkiye and Israel in limbo. Before Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the Turkish government planned on normalizing relations with Israel after a series of meetings the previous two years but pushed back after the astronomical death toll in Gaza. Since Israel’s incursion into Gaza, Turkiye has been sending in aid through Egypt and accepted numerous cancer patients and other medical patients for treatment in Turkiye.
Each flotilla ship has a different purpose, Yildirim explained. He said the Anadolu would carry humanitarian aid supplies and that Vicdan will be taking international activists and media professionals including former Cuban leader Che guevara’s daughter Dr. Aleida Guevara. Also, onboard will be Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson. Yildirim insisted: “No one must remain silent in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.” He added: “We must save Gaza and the world from this cruelty and these wars.” Yildirim told the press that the flotilla will include “people of different religions and faiths,” and said that The Freedom Flotilla will call for a ceasefire in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, urging people around the world to protest in their cities. The IHH head said that the flotilla “will push the gates of Egypt and authorities to reach the port of Gaza,” adding “whatever we can to stop this genocide.” Yildirim said: “But we especially want press member to join our fleet and announce our struggle for freedom to the whole world.”
Currently, Israel continues its onslaught on Gaza with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insisting on a major escalation in Gaza that the International Community, the U.N., the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHC), the U.S. and a host of NGOs and aid organizations are dead-set against. In a ruling handed down from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) provisional ruling, where the ICJ ordered Israel to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is given to civilians in Gaza. The UNHC recently passed a new resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and hostage deal with no conditions, immediately. Israel’s Netanyahu has shown no signs of compliance even after U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent tense phone call with him, warning that the U.S. could reconsider its position on Israel if Israel doesn’t comply with international law and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza enclave. Aid officials have repeatedly told the media that no aid has been allowed in since January 2024 with a number of children having died of malnutrition and starvation.
Israel continues to blame aid agencies and the U.N. for the reasons aid doesn’t make it to those in need but eyewitnesses told the media as did aid organization heads – that the Israeli military is purposely targeting aid workers and convoys. After the U.S. aid organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) lost seven of its aid workers, Israel admitted the targeting of their three-vehicle aid convoy was “unintentional” though WCK founder Jose Andres told the media, Israel’s aim was to directly target the WCK aid workers. Aid agencies reported only close to a fifth of needed supplies enter Gaza. Yildirim told reporters that the flotilla is expected to set out to Israel on April 15. The main organizers of the flotilla include Norway, the U.S., Canada, Germany, South Africa, New Zealand, Sweden, Indonesia, Spain, England and Turkiye. Passengers from 30 different countries will participate in the flotilla campaign.
Photo : AA
