23.10.2026 23:00
The first hearing of the trial with 35 defendants, including Netanyahu, regarding the Sumud Flotilla, which was subjected to armed intervention by Israeli forces while carrying aid to Gaza, was held at the Istanbul 11th Heavy Penal Court. The complainants recounted that they were left hungry, subjected to strip searches, attacked with pressurized water, and beaten.
{"text":"
The first hearing of the case in which 35 defendants, some of whom have arrest warrants, are being tried over the armed intervention by Israeli security forces against the Sumud Flotilla, formed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, was held. The complainants who gave statements at the hearing described the chilling tortures they experienced.
The first hearing of the case in which 35 defendants are being tried over the armed intervention by Israeli security forces against the Sumud Flotilla—among them Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, Israeli General Staff Spokesperson Arye Sharuz Sharuz Shalicar, Beni Aharon, Commander-Officer of the Israeli 146th Division, Daniel Hagari, Head of the Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson Unit, and Israeli Navy Commander David Saar Salama, some of whom have arrest warrants—was held. Complainants gave statements at the hearing held at the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court.
THEY TOOK OUR HEADSCARVES AND THREW THEM IN THE TRASH
Complainant presenter İkbal Gürpınar said, 'Our belongings were stolen. We had medicines; they took our headscarves and threw them in the trash. They especially kept us hungry and watched us. I learned that they raped a British journalist with a rusty piece of iron after throwing her in. They did not even allow us to go to the toilet. We were held captive there for 3 days, but we understood more or less what they went through. They conducted strip searches. I am filing a complaint.'
Complainant journalist Ersin Çelik said he was subjected to physical and psychological violence and was handcuffed in a reverse position. Çelik said, 'They stepped on our passports with their feet. They did not want us to talk to Turkish officials.'
Complainant Fikret Ayçin Kantoğlu said, 'They pointed their guns at us and targeted us. We waited with our hands up.' He said, 'They told us to kneel. They hit me on the head with an iron bar. They did not provide any medical intervention. We were kept waiting in a place with rat droppings for about 3-5 hours, maybe a little more. I could not get my belongings back. My bag and personal items remained there. I am filing a complaint.'
Muhammed Huzeyfe Küçükaytekin said in his statement, 'We were attacked with pressurized water. We experienced serious health problems. Our food and drink needs were not met. First hot air was turned on, then cold air, with the intention that all of us would get sick. In prison, they also tried to force us to sign legal documents. They looked at our Turkish passports and laughed, mocked us. Our access to clean food was prevented. We were subjected to violence. I am filing a complaint.'
THEY SAID, 'YOU TOO WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT THE PALESTINIANS EXPERIENCED'
Kasım Aktağ said, 'They carried out the seizure of the ship. They divided us into groups of five. Verbal and physical violence was applied. All of us were subjected to physical violence by the soldiers. Those who heard that we were Turkish treated us very differently. They said, "You think it will not be your turn; you too will experience what the Palestinians experienced." We could hear bomb sounds in our cells. Gaza was bombed that night; they did this specifically because we were there.'
Complainant Bayram Kuş said in his statement, 'Doctors had brought medicine and baby formula. They tore the suitcases containing these and threw them away. It took us 12 hours to get from the ship to the port. They crammed 100 people into a space for 12 people at gunpoint. They did not allow us to leave the area where we were. At the port they dragged us on the ground. There was a brief interrogation at the port. They put us in shuttle vehicles and bound our hands and blindfolded our eyes. They brought our friends in the shuttle vehicle at 10-minute intervals. They called us "terrorists." They kept us hungry for 3 days. They tried to scare us with dogs. What upset me most is that an activist friend of ours named Anna, a German national, was raped. I had cameras, my drone, my lighting equipment. These had a budget of nearly 2 million. I am filing a complaint.'
Complainant independent MP Sema Silkin Ün said, 'They gathered us in a hall. This hall had no air. It became such that people could not breathe. From the moment we arrived at the port, our process began with being handcuffed. They did not allow us to sleep in prison. Police officers and soldiers spoke in Hebrew and insulted us and Turkey. They played some anthems at full volume. They applied psychological violence.'
GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CHARGES AGAINST 35 DEFENDANTS
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it had been determined that armed intervention was carried out by Israeli security forces against ships in the civilian maritime organization known as the 'Sumud Flotilla,' formed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, while they were navigating in international waters. During the intervention, the ships were forcibly stopped, civilians were subjected to coercion and violence, detained, physically attacked, and subjected to treatment incompatible with human dignity. Meanwhile, within the scope of the investigation, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had also issued arrest warrants for some Israeli ministers. As a result of the investigation, an indictment was prepared against 35 people who were determined to have played a role in the planning and execution of the acts in question and some of whom have arrest warrants, on charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, deprivation of liberty, intentional injury, torture, qualified robbery, damage to property, and seizure of transportation vehicles. The indictment was accepted by the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court.
"}