Türkiye’s parliament condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza aid flotillas

ANKARA

Türkiye’s parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a declaration condemning Israel’s attacks on humanitarian flotillas bound for Gaza, calling them “heinous assaults” on civilians and violations of international law.

The statement, signed by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, said the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” carrying hundreds of activists from 44 countries, sought to deliver humanitarian aid and draw attention to “the genocide in Gaza.”

It accused Israel of committing “yet another war crime” by attacking the flotilla in international waters and blocking humanitarian aid deliveries to Palestinians. The declaration also denounced a separate assault on the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition,” calling the attacks “acts of barbarity that have crossed the limits of human conscience.”

The motion highlighted that three Turkish lawmakers — Sema Silkin Ün, Mehmet Atmaca and Necmettin Çalışkan — were among 21 Turkish nationals aboard one of the vessels targeted by Israeli forces. “The attack on the Vicdan (Conscience) ship should be known as an attack against the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye itself,” it said.

Lawmakers urged all parliaments and international assemblies “to take a common stance and raise their voices” against Israel’s actions, warning that Israel must immediately release detained Turkish citizens and ensure they are not mistreated.

The declaration also vowed that Türkiye would “lead and persistently pursue” legal action at international courts against those responsible for crimes committed by Israeli forces.

“Israel’s occupation, annexation and extermination policies against the Palestinian people must end,” it said, stressing the need for “uninterrupted and comprehensive humanitarian access to Gaza” and for holding Israel accountable for “crimes against humanity.”