30.04.2026 09:21
In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Israel's attack on the Global Sumud Fleet as an "act of piracy." The statement noted that necessary initiatives have been taken for the citizens on board the fleet.
The Israeli navy attacked the Global Sumud Fleet, which was heading towards Gaza with 58 boats and 345 participants from 39 different countries, in international waters, aiming to break the blockade in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
"ACT OF PIRACY"
In a written statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated, "The attack by Israeli forces in international waters on the Global Sumud Fleet, established to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, is an act of piracy. By attacking the Global Sumud Fleet, which seeks to draw attention to the humanitarian disaster suffered by the oppressed in Gaza, Israel has targeted humanitarian values and international law."
"NECESSARY INITIATIVES ARE BEING TAKEN FOR CITIZENS"
In the statement, which noted that initiatives are being taken for citizens on the fleet, it was said, "This aggression by Israel also violates the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters. We invite the international community to adopt a joint stance against this lawless act by Israel. All necessary initiatives are being taken together with other relevant countries regarding the situation of our citizens and other passengers on the fleet."
THERE ARE 31 TURKISH ACTIVISTS ON THE FLEET
The Global Sumud Fleet includes 345 participants from 39 different countries. It was stated that 178 of the participants boarded the ships from Spain, and 167 from Italy. There are also 31 Turkish activists on the fleet.
The names of the Turkish activists on the fleet are as follows:
Ümmü Gülsüm Durmuş, Mustafa Enes Topal, Muhammed Özdemir, Enver Öztürk, Hüseyin Yılmaz, Seyit Ahmet Çapan, Ali Deniz, Yunus Kava, Şahin Yaslık, Mustafa Arslan, Abdulselam Demir, Nevzat Öylek, Nevzat Güzel, Halil Erdoğmuş, Abdüllatif Faslı, Ferzan Çiftçi, Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu, Sibel Can Karakoç, Mehmet Yıldırım, Ömer Aslan, Fatma Zengin, Mehmet Yasir Cebeci, Görkem Duru, Fatih Genç, Mehmet Atlı, Bilali Yıldırım, Mükremin Köse, Salih Tekin, Ramazan Tekdemir, Abdullah Saydemir, Mahmut Çağatay Yavuz.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL SUMUD FLEET
The Global Sumud Fleet's 2026 Spring Mission, aiming to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver vital humanitarian aid, set sail from Barcelona, Spain on April 12.
With participants joining from Italy's Sicily Island, over 60 boats set sail again in the Mediterranean on April 26, while on the night of April 29, in international waters off the coast of Crete Island, the Israeli army unlawfully intervened and began seizing the boats carrying activists.
According to information provided by fleet officials, the boats carry 345 participants from 39 different countries, including Turks.
While fleet officials announced that contact with dozens of their ships has been lost, no reliable information can be obtained about the fate of the activists.
In the first attempt of the Global Sumud Fleet carrying humanitarian aid in September 2025, the Israeli army also unlawfully intervened in international waters in the Mediterranean, detaining the activists and boats.