For more than 18 years, the Global Sumud Flotilla set out in April from various ports across Europe with the aim of breaking the inhumane blockade imposed on Palestine by Israel and delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians. While sailing in the Mediterranean, the flotilla came under attack by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Crete on the night of 29 April. During the intervention, 22 sailing vessels and boats were seized, while 17 managed to escape the attack by entering Greek territorial waters. A total of 175 activists from different countries were on board the seized vessels, including 20 Turkish citizens. It was reported that 31 activists, including 2 Turkish nationals, were injured after being beaten by soldiers during the attack. After two days without information, it was learned that the activists were on Crete, and an evacuation flight was sent to the region upon the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. A total of 59 people, including 18 Turkish activists and 41 activists from 14 different countries, were flown from Crete. The activists were welcomed in Istanbul by their families and civil society representatives, where they also made statements about what they experienced.

Of the 20 Turkish citizens detained by the occupying forces, Ömer Osman Taştan reportedly travelled from Crete to the Netherlands, while Hüseyin Oral was taken to hospital in Greece after being injured during the attack. The names of the 18 Turkish citizens brought to Istanbul are as follows: Mustafa Enes Topal, Muhammed Özdemir, Ali Deniz, Yunus Kava, Şahin Yaşlık, Mustafa Arslan, Abdülselam Demir, Nevzat Öylek, Nevzat Güzel, Halil Erdoğmuş, Abdüllatif Faslı, Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu, Mahmut Akay, Görkem Duru, Mehmet Atlı, Mükremin Köse, Ramazan Tekdemir, and Mahmut Çağatay Yavuz.

Speaking at the reception program, Filistin’e Destek Platformu President Osman Nuri Kabaktepe thanked the activists for their courage and said they stood with Gaza, Jerusalem, and the Palestinian people against what he described as Israeli aggression.

Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association President Beheşti İsmail Songür said that the incident showed that what he described as Israeli “terror” had expanded beyond the Middle East and reached Europe’s borders. He also referred to previous incidents involving civilian aid vessels.

Activist journalist Muhammed Özdemir said that they were taken by Israeli forces while in international waters and stated that the intervention showed, in his words, that Israel was “the world’s terrorist” and “a global problem”.

Global Sumud Flotilla Türkiye Board Member Ayçin Kantoğlu said that a historic process was taking place and made strong statements regarding Israel’s leadership and future.

Activist Ali Deniz stated that they had set out to reach Gaza to deliver food and medicine for children, adding that although they were detained, part of the flotilla was still continuing its journey.

Arjantinli Milletvekili Monika Schlotthauer said that more than 200 people were taken by Israeli forces and that they were subjected to psychological pressure, humiliation, and mistreatment, but emphasized that they would not give up.

Activist Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu said they were taken in Europe and subjected to severe treatment, stating that 200 people were placed in containers and that many activists were injured and still receiving treatment.

British activist Katy Davidson said she joined the initiative after being unable to ignore the humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasized the scale of Palestinian prisoners held in detention.

Legal representative Av. Hüseyin Dişli stated that a judicial investigation had been launched in Türkiye, noting that arrest warrants had been issued for 37 Israeli individuals as part of earlier proceedings, and that a new investigation had also been opened regarding this latest intervention.

After the reception, the activists were taken to the Forensic Medicine Institution for medical examinations.