History

To understand and make sense of the history of the Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association, it is necessary to trace the development process of the Mavi Marmara Incident, which is the founding issue of the Association, up to the present day. Following the attack on the Mavi Marmara ship, our volunteer lawyers pursued the Mavi Marmara Case, and during the time leading up to the establishment of our Association, both the founding philosophy of our Association was built and a great struggle was at the forefront from the very first moment.

What Happened on the Mavi Marmara Ship?

In May 2010, six international non-governmental organizations (IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Free Gaza Movement, European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, and The International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza) formed a humanitarian aid flotilla to deliver 6,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza with donations they had collected. The flotilla also carried 750 activists, including participants from 36 countries such as Germany, Kuwait, Israel, Ireland, Sweden, Greece, South Cyprus, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt, and Algeria. Among the activists were more than 15 parliamentarians, over 60 international media members, artists, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

On May 31, 2010, the occupying state of Israel carried out an unlawful attack on the Mavi Marmara. Casualties and injuries occurred as a result of the attack, and the surviving participants of the flotilla were imprisoned without any legal justification. The flotilla participants, deprived of their freedom, faced torture and ill-treatment in the prisons they were held in.

If the attack had not taken place, the flotilla, with over 700 people, would have reached Gaza during the day and delivered tons of humanitarian aid to those in need. Many international institutions stated their condemnations following the attack, and legal processes for the unforgettable Mavi Marmara Case is still being pursued in different parts of the world.

The Establishment of the Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association:

The Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association, established six months after the return of the ships, was founded to follow all processes related to the Mavi Marmara attack in every area. At the same time, our Association accepted humanitarian aid efforts as a legacy of the Mavi Marmara and acted with the awareness of being the pioneer of this struggle.

The projects implemented by the Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association after its establishment are also seen as the fruits of this historical development. Although the Mavi Marmara ship was attacked on its way to Palestine and could not reach its destination, the Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association has delivered numerous humanitarian aid to Palestine and even opened a school in Gaza, playing a significant role in the construction of Palestine's future.