[45765] 'Sumud Flotilla' activists detained by Israel returned to Istanbul after incident in international waters

Return of 'Sumud Flotilla' activists to Istanbul after detention at sea

Over the weekend, 59 activists who were part of the global 'Sumud Flotilla' arrived in Istanbul after being detained by Israeli security forces while attempting to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip. According to reports from TRT Haber and other media outlets, the group included 20 Turkish citizens. The activists were first transferred to the island of Crete in Greece and from there were flown to their final destination.

The activists and some sources identified with the organization, such as Daily Islamist, leveled harsh accusations against Israel, alleging physical violence, theft of property, and deplorable detention conditions inside shipping containers. Sputnik Türkiye quoted activist Halil Aradomuș, who stated that the activists were held in difficult conditions, claiming that "during the night until the morning we shivered from the cold" after the place was intentionally flooded with water. Conversely, Israel emphasizes the legality of the operation in blocking the attempt to violate the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The affair has sparked a political storm in Turkey. Özgür Özel, the leader of the Turkish opposition, harshly attacked Erdoğan's government for its participation in a "peace council" alongside Netanyahu and Trump, calling the government's position "hypocrisy." On the other hand, the Turkish Parliament unanimously adopted a motion condemning Israel's action, defining it as "piracy" and a "war crime," according to reports from TurkishNews.

At the same time, tensions surrounding the incident continue in the international arena. Haber X reported that the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, called on the European Union to suspend partnership agreements with Israel due to the incident. While two of the main activists (citizens of Brazil and Spain) remain in Israeli custody for now, the flotilla activists emphasize that they intend to continue their attempts to deliver aid to the Strip, as noted by activist Omar Aslan on A Haber.