05.10.2025 10:58
The 137 activists, including 36 Turks, aboard the Sumud Fleet, which was detained by Israel, gave statements to the prosecutor after health checks. Famous presenter and activist Bekir Develi stated, "They did not give us water in any way. They confiscated my jacket and are cooling the transfer vehicle to 16 degrees. They tied our hands with plastic handcuffs in a way that blood wouldn't circulate. I swear to God, we will go again as soon as possible."
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While trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, a Turkish Airlines (THY) plane carrying 137 activists, including 36 Turks, who were detained by the Israeli authorities, landed in Istanbul. The local and foreign activists welcomed at Istanbul Airport were taken to the Forensic Medicine Institution in Yenibosna for health checks.
THEY GAVE STATEMENTS AFTER THE HEALTH CHECK After the health checks, the activists were questioned by 11 public prosecutors and left the Forensic Medicine Institution later that night. Activists with homes in Istanbul went home, while it was learned that foreign activists would be accommodated in hotels.
1 TURK AND 6 ACTIVISTS WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL On the other hand, after the health check, 1 Turkish and 6 activists were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The procedures of the activists at the Forensic Medicine Institution concluded later that night.
"WE WERE SO CLOSE WHEN THEY INTERVENED, IT HURT US A LOT" Famous presenter and activist Bekir Develi said, "Thank God we have returned to our homeland. We got as close to the Gaza border as we could. Our boat was an Australian boat, and we approached up to 36.8 miles with the Australian boat. We shared that moment with the press. We were so close to Gaza that when they intervened, it hurt us a lot. I mean, returning without being able to meet the children waiting on the beach with the belongings we had was truly painful for us. However, I believe that the Sumud Fleet has broken the belief that this blockade is unbreakable. God willing, next time we will set sail with more boats at the same time and break this blockade in a more organized way. I think the spell has been broken. I believe the Sumud Fleet has successfully and rightfully fulfilled its duty. Now, rather than lamenting about this, I believe the whole world has seen that activists from all over the world who do not remain silent about the needy people there and the occupation can achieve something. God willing, we are determined to do better than this and we will," he said.
"THEY TAKE HIS COAT AND COOL THE VEHICLE TO 16 DEGREES" Develi stated, "They apply all kinds of psychological violence. They are very trained in this regard. They did not give us water in any way; none of my friends who came here had drunk water for 36 hours. They do it in a very humiliating way. They told us to drink water from the toilet taps. They gave us food, but you don't eat because you can't be sure what they put in it. For example, during prayer times, while we were praying with friends in the cell, they tried to provoke us by entering. When transferring from one place to another by car, they first take your coat and then cool that transfer vehicle to 16 degrees. We know our teeth are chattering, our hands are handcuffed. We booed their foreign minister. Because we shouted 'Free Palestine', they said, 'You are terrorists, you killed children,' and they were most angry because we did not let them speak. They tied our hands with plastic handcuffs so that blood would not circulate. They subjected us to that psychological torture for 4.5 hours. I swear to God, we will go again as soon as possible," he expressed.
"THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING THOROUGHLY" The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office made a statement regarding the issue, stating that the investigation is being conducted meticulously and comprehensively. In the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated, "Regarding our citizen who was detained as a result of the attack carried out by the Israeli naval forces on the Global Sumud Fleet, which was heading towards Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid in international waters, an investigation has been initiated under the crimes of 'Deprivation of Liberty', 'Hijacking or Detaining Means of Transportation', 'Qualified Robbery', 'Damage to Property', and 'Torture' within the framework of the regulations in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the authority rules in Article 15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271, and the duty rules in Articles 12/13 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237. It has been determined that there were a total of 137 passengers on the plane that landed at Istanbul Airport from Israel on October 4, 2025, consisting of 36 Turks and 23 Malaysians, among individual activists from different countries. After the arrival of our victim citizens and activists from other countries in our city, they were referred to the Forensic Medicine Institution in Yenibosna for health examinations and the preparation of forensic examination reports. After the examination procedures of the victims, statements will be taken at the Forensic Medicine Institution by 11 prosecutors assigned by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The investigation is continuing meticulously and comprehensively," the statement included.
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