77 years have passed since 1948, when the terrorist organization Israel was officially disguised and transformed into a terrorist state. For 77 years, Israel has pursued a policy of bloodshed, tears, and gunpowder in Palestinian territories, committing the greatest genocide of the last century in these lands. Since 2006, Israel has imposed an illegal blockade on Gaza, and for nearly 20 years, it has continued this unlawful siege.
The date of October 7, which reversed the 77-year-old oppression, represents the most justified anger of the Palestinians seeking their rights. A people whose lands have been taken, whose rights have been violated, who have been exiled, harassed, and assaulted have, since October 7, been systematically massacred in an unprecedented manner. The terrorist state of Israel, backed primarily by America and then by the Western world, has sought to cover up the genocide it has committed in this region by hiding behind the false claim of antisemitism. For the past 16 months, Israel has blocked the passage of medicine, humanitarian aid, and food into Gaza while simultaneously massacring children, women, and civilians, exposing its savagery to the world.
As Mavi Marmara Association, a component of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, we have reunited in 2024 with over 50,000 volunteers from 52 countries to reaffirm our support for Gaza’s rightful struggle, which we first demonstrated in 2010. The sole aim and purpose of these conscientious people are to break the blockade imposed on Gaza, ensure the arrival of humanitarian aid and human rights observers, and put an end to this oppression.
The first goal of the ships departing from different parts of the world was to visit European ports to raise awareness about Gaza. The Conscience Ship, which has completed all its official documents and certifications, requested departure clearance from Haydarpaşa Port 187 days ago. Despite the fact that issuing this document is a process that technically takes only 15 minutes, it has not been granted for 187 days due to its mission of raising awareness about Gaza.
Human rights, modern law, and maritime law have been disregarded, and the world’s conscience has been silenced under the pretext of commercial and political relations. To expose this unlawful obstruction to the public, we launched the Freedom Vigil in front of Haydarpaşa Port exactly 150 days ago. Now, we have decided to extend this vigil to all ports worldwide. We will be on alert in every port against all commercial ships that fuel Zionism and genocide via sea routes. Although the recently declared ceasefire in Gaza has given us hope, the illegal blockade remains an unresolved issue.
The Freedom Vigil, which began 150 days ago, has continued to this day with the support of conscientious people from different communities, groups, languages, and ethnicities. Despite harsh winter conditions, these people have remained steadfast for 150 days, raising the loudest voice against the terrorist state of Israel at a time when global politics has failed to go beyond populist rhetoric and impose meaningful sanctions.
During this genocide process, the fact that many commercial goods from the terrorist state of Israel have continued to pass through Turkish ports, and that oil shipments still proceed through these ports, is a political disgrace that disturbs all conscientious people. While commercial ships continue to move from Turkish ports to the occupied Palestinian territories, the Conscience Ship—representing the voice of the world’s conscience—has been kept waiting for an extended period.
Following diplomatic meetings with government officials, we received assurances that the pressure and unlawful actions against the Conscience Ship would end once the Freedom Vigil at Haydarpaşa Port concluded. Based on this promise from government officials, the Conscience Ship will reapply for its departure clearance in the coming days and follow all necessary procedures. From then on, it will set its course toward European ports to join its fellow coalition ships and continue its awareness efforts for Palestine.
The Freedom Vigil, Turkey’s longest-running protest, is the united voice of all humanity against genocide. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Freedom Vigil participants and the noble people who have unwaveringly supported this cause with patience and perseverance.
Until oppression is eradicated from the earth, Mavi Marmara will continue on its path!