Erdal Elibüyük, Vice President of the Hope Caravan Foundation, arrived back in Istanbul on Monday evening after participating in the "Global Gaza March" in Cairo, Egypt, since June 12.

In an exclusive interview with ILKHA, Elibüyük provided a detailed account of the severe challenges faced by activists, condemned the Egyptian government’s aggressive response, and issued a passionate call for continued global action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Global Gaza March, a multinational effort to demand the opening of the Rafah Border Gate and spotlight Israel’s ongoing massacres in Gaza, brought together activists from dozens of countries, including Turkey, Europe, and beyond. Elibüyük praised the Turkish and European delegations for their leadership in organizing the march, which aimed to mobilize global conscience, pressure political leaders, and deliver humanitarian support to Palestinians. “This was not a touristic trip,” he emphasized. “We anticipated challenges, but we acted within the bounds of Egyptian law, entering with valid visas to advocate for Gaza’s oppressed.”

Hostile Treatment in Egypt: A Betrayal of Shared Values

Elibüyük expressed deep dismay at the treatment meted out by Egyptian authorities, describing it as “unworthy of Islamic countries.” Activists faced a litany of abuses: prolonged detentions at Cairo’s airport, deportations, hotel raids, and violent assaults by what Elibüyük called “axe men”—armed thugs allegedly linked to past atrocities in Tahrir Square. These attackers, transported in civilian buses, targeted peaceful protesters during a sit-in in Ismailia, injuring several, including women who were beaten and abandoned at hospital entrances. “These were not official police but mercenaries without regard for human or legal values,” Elibüyük said, placing the blame squarely on the Egyptian government.

He recounted a particularly harrowing incident at a checkpoint in Ismailia, where activists’ passports were confiscated, and they were surrounded by police under scorching heat. Despite complying with orders, they faced aggression. “Our slogans were universal, aimed at awakening global conscience against Israel’s occupation, not Egypt’s authorities,” Elibüyük clarified. Activists shared water, candy, and compassion with police and local children, demonstrating their peaceful intent. “We sat under the sun, putting our hearts on the line for humanity,” he said, highlighting the unity among activists of diverse faiths, languages, and backgrounds, all driven by a shared commitment to justice.

Voices of Courage: A German Activist’s Stand

Among the most poignant moments Elibüyük shared was his encounter with a German activist named Stalin, a journalist with German state television. When asked why she joined the march, Stalin replied, “I want to look my children in the face. I couldn’t sit at home drinking coffee while mothers and children die in Gaza. I came for humanity, even at the cost of my job.” Her words, Elibüyük said, encapsulated the universal call to action driving the march. “Gaza is not a battle between armies—it’s a place where humanity is dying,” he added, contrasting Israel’s advanced military arsenal with the Palestinian mujahideen’s small arms and resolute spirit.

A Land of Prophets, Marred by Injustice

Elibüyük expressed profound heartbreak over the attacks in Egypt, a land revered for its Islamic heritage and figures like Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, and the prophets Yusuf and Jacob. “To face drunken, lawless attackers in such a geography was unbearable,” he said. He recounted the injury of HÜDA PAR Mersin MP Faruk, struck in the head, and the abandonment of 60-year-old activist Abdulkudus Yalçın in a desert, left without communication for hours. “The physical injuries didn’t wound us as much as the heartbreak,” Elibüyük said. “We set out to do what states should be doing, but with only our prayers, bodies, and souls.”

The activists endured relentless surveillance, with authorities tailing them in restaurants and streets. Taxi drivers were instructed to deny them service, and hotels evicted them under pressure. “We were raided multiple times, forced to change locations, and ultimately left our hotel—not in escape, but to protect our mission,” Elibüyük said. At Cairo’s airport, they waited 12 hours, unable to contact six colleagues for eight hours due to communication blackouts. “I’ve never felt braver,” he admitted, crediting the group’s resolve to protect Gaza’s cause.

A Call to Action: Gaza’s Fall Threatens All

Elibüyük warned that Gaza’s crisis is a global one. “If Gaza falls, Tehran will fall, then Istanbul. But even if they stand, we cannot let our humanity fall,” he declared. He estimated that 60,000 people have been martyred in Gaza, with as many killed by hunger as by violence. “How can we live with this shame?” he asked, urging Turkey’s public to join the cause. While the march did not reach Rafah, Elibüyük predicted a global surge in activism. “Millions from Europe, Asia, and every continent will flow to Gaza by air, sea, and land,” he said, citing rumors of new flotillas being prepared.

He recounted the resilience of three Sufi participants, who, after being detained in a hot car for six hours, saw their ordeal as a spiritual honor akin to Prophet Yusuf’s trials in Egypt. “These experiences are a beginning,” Elibüyük said, vowing to continue until the occupation ends, even at the cost of lives. “We will march until our shoes tear, our heads break, and our bodies fall.”

Media’s Role and a Vision of Freedom

Elibüyük thanked the press for amplifying Gaza’s plight, calling them the “conscience of this cause.” He rejected political calculations that obscure the crisis, insisting, “As Muslims, we must be straight—no book of accounts.” Quoting translator Ayçin Kantoğlu’s powerful words—“Everywhere is under occupation except Gaza”—he argued that true freedom lies in resisting oppression with free minds and words. “In Ismailia’s squares, I saw the freest people in the world,” he said, describing activists who defied fear despite attacks.

He dismissed claims of cowardice among Egyptians and Jordanians, noting the thousands martyred in Tahrir Square. “These people are suppressed, but the empire of fear will collapse,” he predicted, pointing to a brewing regional awakening. Elibüyük expressed hope that the Middle East awaits a spark to ignite widespread resistance, urging activists worldwide to join the fight.

A Resilient Spirit Amid Adversity

The Global Gaza March, though halted short of its goal, has galvanized a movement that Elibüyük believes will grow stronger. “We are more hopeful than yesterday,” he said, emphasizing that the shame of inaction is too heavy to bear. The activists’ ordeal—marked by violence, surveillance, and betrayal—has only strengthened their resolve. “The massacre in Gaza will end when the brave pay the price,” Elibüyük concluded, calling for a global uprising to restore humanity and free Palestine from occupation. (ILKHA)