The courtyard of Diyarbakır’s historic Grand Mosque echoed with chants of freedom and solidarity on Sunday as hundreds of children gathered to support the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian flotilla sailing to challenge Israel’s inhumane blockade on Gaza.

The young participants, aged between 7 and 12, came together as part of the finale of the “Life is Beautiful with Prayer” program, organized by the Prophet Lovers Foundation. Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the event’s slogan, the children filled the mosque grounds with energy and conviction, demonstrating that even the youngest members of society stand firmly with Palestine in its struggle for justice.

Before the event’s prayers and activities, the children released balloons into the sky — a symbolic gesture of hope and solidarity with the people of Gaza and the international activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. Each balloon carried with it a message of resistance and compassion for Gaza’s besieged population, who have endured nearly two decades of blockade, economic strangulation, and systematic deprivation of basic needs.

After the balloon release, the children marched down Gazi Street toward the Kurşunlu Mosque complex, chanting slogans that called for freedom for Palestine and an end to the siege of Gaza. Their youthful voices reverberated through the streets of Diyarbakır, amplifying the plight of Gaza’s families and sending a powerful reminder that the Palestinian cause transcends borders, uniting communities in faith and solidarity.

A spokesperson for the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation emphasized that the gathering was not only a celebration of prayer and spirituality, but also an education in justice and empathy. “These children are the future. By standing with Gaza today, they show that the spirit of resistance, faith, and humanity continues to live on in the hearts of the next generation,” the spokesperson said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla — composed of international humanitarians, activists, and solidarity groups — has drawn worldwide attention as it sails to deliver vital aid and defy Israel’s unlawful blockade. For Gaza’s two million residents, deprived of food, medicine, and fuel, the Flotilla represents hope against oppression. For Diyarbakır’s children, it became a symbol of global unity and steadfastness (sumud) in the face of tyranny.

As the colorful balloons rose above the minarets of the Grand Mosque, they carried a clear message: the Palestinian people are not alone. From Gaza to Diyarbakır, the call for justice and liberation continues to grow stronger, carried forward by prayers, marches, and acts of solidarity that defy borders and generations. (ILKHA)