Fifteen NGOs forming the Zeytinburnu Brotherhood Platform hosted a notable event titled "Do Not Forget Gaza" at the Culture and Art Centre in Istanbul's Zeytinburnu district.

The event was well-attended, with district governor Adem Uslu, district mayor Ömer Arısoy, political party officials, NGO representatives, and numerous citizens present.

The event began with a moving recitation of the Holy Quran by Mustafa Öztürk. Author Abdullah Yıldız then took the stage, drawing historical parallels to the current situation in Gaza, Jerusalem, and Palestine. He emphasized the critical importance of unity within the Islamic world, noting, "Historian Ibn Khaldun says, 'The past is similar to the future as water is similar to water.' If we think about this in the context of Gaza, Jerusalem, and Palestine, what happened in the past and the events it is experiencing every day are very similar."

Yıldız lamented the historical loss of significant religious sites and territories when Muslim unity was fractured, stating, "When the Islamic world, Muslims lost their unity and solidarity, we lost Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, and Palestine. 100 years ago, when we lost our unity, when the Ottoman Empire disintegrated, Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Palestine were lost."

Yıldız stressed the importance of following the example set by Saladin-i Ayyubi in reclaiming Jerusalem. "Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa can only be conquered again by following the path followed by Saladin-i Ayyubi in conquering Jerusalem," he stated. He recalled the devastation of the Crusades and the subsequent massacre of 70,000 Muslims, drawing a parallel to the current situation in Gaza.

"Muslims were shattered, there were 33 principalities. While we were dealing with these, Pope Urban called for unification and targeted Jerusalem. They came in hundreds of thousands, millions and we could not cope. During the occupation of Jerusalem, 70,000 Muslims were massacred in a few days," Yıldız explained.

He highlighted the historical significance of Aleppo, saying, "Whenever Aleppo stands up, Syria, Damascus, and the ummah will stand up." He further noted that the light of hope in the Islamic world was rekindled when Imaduddin Zengi took Urfa from the crusaders, leading to a renewed sense of unity and purpose.

Yıldız urged Muslims to focus on expelling Zionists from occupied territories and to put aside internal conflicts. "Saladin Ayyubi, while ensuring Islamic unity, said 'those who deal with their friends cannot fight their enemies.' So let's not mess with our friends," he urged.

Emphasizing the importance of unity and solidarity, Yıldız stated, "It will not be possible to save Jerusalem until our young people are filled with the love of Qur'an, prayer, and Jerusalem." He called for instilling these values in the younger generation to ensure a strong foundation for future efforts.

Praising the resilience and dedication of the people of Gaza, Yıldız remarked, "No one can hold a candle to Gazans in this regard. The rate of prayer in Gaza is around 90 percent. Gaza has the highest number of hafiz per capita. Only during the period of martyr Sheikh Ahmet Yasin, 150,000 hafiz were trained."

He expressed hope that Turkey and the global Muslim community would unite in support of Gaza, saying, "God willing, Gazans will achieve victory. Türkiye and the Muslims of the world will unite and actually show that they are on their side."

The event concluded with a heartfelt prayer led by Semih Dumlupınar, the Istanbul Central Preacher, calling for peace and justice in Gaza. The Zeytinburnu Brotherhood Platform's programme served as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, solidarity, and continued support for the oppressed people of Gaza. (ILKHA)