As Israel’s brutal campaign of annihilation in Gaza drags into its twentieth month, the Ankara Palestine Solidarity Platform (ANFIDAP) is intensifying efforts to sever the economic arteries sustaining the Israeli war machine.

At the heart of these efforts is the ANFIDAP Boycott Working Group, led by Semi Okumuş, which is spearheading an ambitious strategy to shift Türkiye’s public and institutional spending away from companies complicit in the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza

In an interview with Ilke News Agency (ILKHA), Okumuş stated unequivocally that the Israeli regime is emboldened by the financial backing it receives from global corporations—many of which operate with impunity under the pretext of neutrality. “As bombs fall on the children of Gaza, corporations linked to the Zionist entity continue raking in profits from countries like ours. Boycott is not only a moral obligation—it is a strategic act of resistance,” he said.

Strategic Shift: Targeting the Tech Sector of Israeli Occupation Regime

While awareness of the need to boycott consumer goods is growing, Okumuş stressed that deeper structural changes are needed—particularly in sectors like cyber security and technology. “The most dangerous threat comes not just from products on supermarket shelves, but from invisible infrastructure used by public institutions that directly benefits Israeli military intelligence,” he warned.

Okumuş cited the alarming fact that many Turkish government agencies unknowingly use services provided by Israeli-founded cyber security firms. “These companies are often established by former Zionist soldiers and intelligence officers. By purchasing their services, we are indirectly financing Israel’s military apparatus,” he said.

ANFIDAP has opened lines of communication with Türkiye’s Cyber Security Cluster and other relevant agencies to push for a total switch to domestic, value-aligned alternatives. In cooperation with OSTİM Technical University, the group recently hosted a panel on the ‘Technological Boycott,’ drawing academics, IT professionals, and concerned citizens into the conversation.

Economic Impact of the Boycott Movement

Despite frequent cynicism from pro-occupation voices, the impact of boycott movements is tangible. Okumuş shared internal assessments showing that multinational companies connected to Israel have experienced marked losses in Türkiye due to boycott participation rates ranging from 20–30%. “Even this level of engagement forces these companies to resort to frantic discount campaigns and stock purges. Their margins shrink, and their dominance is challenged,” he explained.

He emphasized that while Türkiye is leading the Muslim world in boycott consciousness, much work remains to be done. “We draw strength from the examples of Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Yet even here, where public sentiment is strong, we must transform awareness into sustained economic action.”

Building a Culture of Ethical Resistance Through Youth Engagement

Okumuş also highlighted the indispensable role of education and youth mobilization in strengthening the long-term boycott movement. “The real battlefield is the consciousness of our youth. If we raise a generation that makes ethical consumer choices, we strike a blow that outlives any single campaign,” he said.

To this end, ANFIDAP launched a national ‘Responsible Consumption Boycott’ competition targeting school-aged children, aiming to instill values of dignity, justice, and responsibility. “We’re not just boycotting products—we’re shaping a worldview rooted in solidarity with the oppressed,” Okumuş noted. The contest, which concluded this week, will culminate in a prize ceremony celebrating students who demonstrated creativity and commitment to the cause.

Coordinated Civil Society Action Against Complicity

Formed from a coalition of over 35 national and grassroots organizations, ANFIDAP has staged hundreds of public events since October 7, 2023, many of them drawing tens of thousands of participants. The Boycott Working Group was established to harmonize and intensify these efforts with strategic precision.

“Our people are no longer content with symbolic gestures. They want impactful action,” Okumuş asserted. “Every lira withheld from Zionist-aligned companies is a moral bullet fired in defense of Gaza’s children. Every app deleted, every contract canceled, is a declaration that we will not be silent accomplices.”

Okumuş concluded with a message of determination: “Our campaign is not seasonal—it is a permanent front in the struggle for justice. And we invite every conscientious heart to join this economic intifada until Palestine is free.” (ILKHA)