09.06.2025 01:11
Turkish sailor Şuayb Ordu, aboard the Madleen sailboat aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, made a statement on his social media account. Responding to Israel's threats against the ship, Ordu said, "They may choose me as a scapegoat because I am Turkish."
The Turkish Şuayb Ordu, aboard the Madleen sailboat aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which Israel has caused a humanitarian disaster and imposed a strict blockade on, stated that they would not resist if Israel intervened with the ship and would maintain their peaceful stance, saying, "They may choose me as a scapegoat because I am Turkish."
In a video shared on his Instagram account, Turkish Şuayb Ordu, aboard the Madleen sailboat aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, made a statement regarding the news that Israel was preparing to intervene with the Madleen sailboat.
"THEY MAY CHOOSE ME AS A SCAPEGOAT BECAUSE I AM TURKISH"
Referring to reports that "the Israeli army would intervene with the ship, deport the activists on board, but would open fire if there was resistance," Ordu pointed out that the Israeli army could choose someone from the ship as a "scapegoat" to carry out an attack.
Ordu said, "I have the potential to be chosen as this scapegoat because I am Turkish. At this point, I propose that if Israel has the courage, they should come with cameras and film the raid process and share it with the world."
"EVEN IF THEY PUT A GUN TO MY HEAD AND SHOOT, I WON'T RAISE MY HAND"
The Turkish activist stated that he would not take any action if there was a raid on the ship, saying: "If any harm comes to me and they kill me and cannot prove it with visual evidence, everyone should know that I did not take any action. They can put a gun to my head and shoot, I won't even raise my hand. I won't say a word, I won't even look at their faces. We are moving forward peacefully, and I have infinite respect for my friends here to protect their lives."
"WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ANY PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS"
Ordu, recalling that he has been conducting peaceful actions for a year, said, "If they are coming to raid this ship, we will put on our life jackets, sit down, and wait with our hands empty. We will not engage in any provocative actions. We will not react. If they harm one of us, know that they are slandering."
The Turkish activist concluded his remarks by saying, "I want the whole world to hear that I will not show any resistance, I will not even have any facial expressions, no matter what they do. Any harm that comes to one of us is pure slander; this is called murder."
WHAT HAPPENED?
As part of the last mission organized by the civil society organization called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver aid to the region, the 18-meter sailboat set sail for Gaza from the San Giovanni Li Cuti Port in Catania, Italy, on June 1.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he had instructed the Israeli army to "do whatever is necessary" to prevent the Madleen ship from reaching the shores of Gaza by threatening the Freedom Flotilla.
Israeli Army Spokesperson Effie Defrin stated in a press release that they were preparing to take action against the ship carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, who are struggling with hunger under Israeli attacks.
The "Conscience" ship of the FFF, formed by the gathering of campaigns and initiatives from various parts of the world to end Israeli attacks on Gaza and kept secret against possible dangers, was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta on May 2 at 00:23 local time.