The Turkish parliament has urged Israel to immediately release detained activists and Turkish nationals, describing the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla as piracy and a war crime.
The parliament on Thursday also unanimously adopted a speaker’s motion condemning Israel’s armed intervention against the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The motion, signed by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, was read out in the General Assembly before being put to a vote.
The text stated that Israel had once again “blatantly violated international law,” adding another offence to ongoing acts of genocide and war crimes.
Recalling that the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian and peaceful initiative, was attacked in international waters, the motion said Israeli forces had obstructed humanitarian aid and detained more than 180 pro-Palestinian activists, including 20 Turkish citizens.
“This act of piracy is a clear war crime. We warn Israel, which has exceeded all limits of humanity’s tolerance, and call for the immediate release of the forcibly detained activists and our citizens,” the motion said.
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It added that the Turkish Grand National Assembly, together with all political parties and lawmakers, stands in solidarity with unlawfully detained citizens and all members of the humanitarian initiative seeking to deliver aid to the people of Gaza.
The motion also pledged that Türkiye would lead and persistently pursue accountability before international courts for all crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against members of the flotilla, particularly Turkish nationals.
It reiterated a call to all parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies, and organisations to take a united stance and raise their voices to end Israel’s occupation, genocide, and apartheid against the Palestinian people, ensure uninterrupted humanitarian access to Gaza, and hold Israel accountable for crimes against humanity.
