Turkey has taken action for 2 Turks on the Madleen ship detained by Israel.

09.06.2025 12:21

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated efforts for the two Turks on the Madleen ship detained by Israel. Meanwhile, the Ministry stated, "The intervention by Israeli forces on the 'Madleen' ship, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and included our citizens, while it was sailing in international waters, is a clear violation of international law."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to Israel's attack on the Madleen ship, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and carried 12 human rights activist.

In a written statement made by the ministry, it was emphasized that the intervention on the Madleen ship is a violation of law, and efforts have begun for the release of 2 Turks detained on the ship.

FIRST REACTION FROM TURKEY

The statement included the following remarks:

"The intervention by Israeli forces on the 'Madleen' ship, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and carried our citizens, while sailing in international waters, is a clear violation of international law.

"Israel has once again proven that it is a terrorist state."

This heinous attack by the Netanyahu government, which threatens freedom of navigation and maritime security, has once again proven that Israel is a terrorist state.

The rightful reaction of the international community against Israel's genocidal policies, which uses hunger as a weapon and obstructs the delivery of humanitarian aid, will continue. Israel's aggressive and lawless attitude will not silence the voices that uphold human values."

THE SITUATION OF TURKISH CITIZENS IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED

According to information obtained from sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the situation of our citizens on the Madleen ship is being closely monitored.

The Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv has made the necessary efforts for the citizens to be released as soon as the ship reaches land.

Relatives of the citizens are being regularly informed.

ÖMER ÇELİK: THE WORLD MUST COOPERATE

AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik stated, "We strongly condemn Israel's intervention on the 'Madleen' ship. The entire world must cooperate to ensure that those who ordered and carried out this attack are brought to justice."

In a statement on his social media account, Çelik used the following expressions:

"We strongly condemn Israel's intervention on the 'Madleen' ship. The entire world must cooperate to ensure that those who ordered and carried out this attack are brought to justice.

While the Madleen ship was trying to deliver aid to Gaza on behalf of humanity, it faced Israeli aggression in international waters. It has once again been seen that Israel uses the obstruction of humanitarian aid as a weapon.

The entire world must condemn Israel in the face of this aggression and implement concrete measures."

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR ALTUN: COWARDLY ATTACK

Communication Director Fahrettin Altun stated in a statement, "Israel's attack on the civilian Madleen ship, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, is a clear violation of international law and human rights. We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms."

SEQUENCING REACTIONS

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmuş: The terrorist operation carried out by Israeli military forces against the Madleen ship, which was en route to draw attention to the genocide in Gaza and carried only civilians, is a cowardly attack directed not only at a humanitarian mission but also at human dignity. The systematic punishment, genocide, and siege policies applied against the Palestinian people have no legal or humanitarian legitimacy. The obstruction of humanitarian aid is a clear crime under international law. The current situation we face once again shows that the scales of justice in the global order are broken, and the strong crush the weak. We invite the international community to raise its voice against this blatant lawlessness, to defend humanitarian values, and to stand by the Madleen. We declare once again that we are on the side of Gaza, Madleen, justice, peace, and human dignity.

Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç: The intervention of Israeli soldiers on the 'Madleen' ship, which was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to thousands of victims struggling with hunger and deprivation in Gaza and carried our citizens, is absolutely unacceptable. This intervention on the Madleen ship in international waters is also a clear violation of international law. This intervention, which occurred in international waters and is contrary to international law, reveals the terrorist-friendly attitude of the Israeli government. The Netanyahu government, which uses hunger as a weapon in front of the eyes of the world, will never silence the reaction of the conscience of the international community.

THERE ARE 12 ACTIVISTS ON BOARD

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a civil society organization, organized its last mission to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver aid to the region with an 18-meter sailing boat, which set sail from the San Giovanni Li Cuti Port in Catania, Italy, on June 1.

The activists on the Madleen ship announced that they would maintain their peaceful stance and would not resist if the Israeli army intervened.

The Israeli army intervened on the Madleen ship, which aimed to break the blockade on Gaza.

There are 12 people on board, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament (EP), Yasemin Acar, a German citizen, and from Turkey, Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu, Thiago Avila from Brazil, Sergio Toribio from Spain, Marco van Rennes from the Netherlands, Baptiste Andre, Reva Viard, Pascal Maurieras, and Yanis Mhamdi from France, as well as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and journalist Omar Faiad.

ABOUT 2.3 MILLION PALESTINIANS ARE FACING A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been carrying out violent attacks on the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, schools, and tents where displaced Palestinians are staying.

Due to Israel's blockade, which restricts the entry of medicine and humanitarian aid into Gaza, approximately 2.3 million Palestinians are facing a humanitarian disaster.

Palestinian officials and international circles warn that Israel is implementing a policy of starvation in Gaza and using hunger as a "weapon of war."

Demonstrations held around the world call for an end to the attacks on Gaza and for humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region.

Israel, seeking to monopolize the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, frequently targets Palestinians who are heading to humanitarian aid points established with the support of the United States in hopes of finding food.

In the attacks carried out by Israel on Gaza, 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives and 126,000 people have been injured.