HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu met met with activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla who were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters while attempting to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.

The meeting took place at the headquarters of Memur-Sen, where Yapıcıoğlu sat down with the union’s deputy chairman and provincial representatives who had participated in the flotilla mission. The activists had been detained following what was widely condemned by pro-Palestinian groups as an unlawful intervention by Israeli forces.

In a statement on X, Yapıcıoğlu emphasized that the interception had failed to weaken the activists’ resolve. On the contrary, he said, their commitment to the Palestinian cause had deepened.

“We visited our brothers and sisters who took part in the Sumud Flotilla and were detained by Zionist pirates in international waters,” he said. “This act of piracy did not break their determination. We witnessed that they have become even more resolute and steadfast in their struggle.”

The flotilla, which set sail with the aim of breaking the long-standing blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, has become a symbol of international solidarity with the Palestinian people, who continue to endure severe humanitarian conditions.

Yapıcıoğlu also framed the broader struggle in moral and historical terms, arguing that what he described as oppression cannot endure indefinitely.

“The awakened conscience of humanity will ultimately overcome anti-human Zionism,” he stated. “Its defeat is inevitable—it is only a matter of time. We send our greetings to all those who stand with truth, justice, and the oppressed.”

The Global Sumud Flotilla represents one of several recent international initiatives aimed at challenging the blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007 and has drawn widespread criticism from humanitarian organizations. Activists from multiple countries have joined such missions, risking detention and confrontation at sea in an effort to deliver aid and draw global attention to the crisis.

Yapıcıoğlu concluded his remarks by thanking Ali Yalçın, chairman of Memur-Sen, and all participants involved in the flotilla for their “warm hospitality” and unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause.

The meeting underscores the continuing mobilization within Türkiye in support of Gaza, as civil society groups, unions, and political actors intensify their calls for an end to the blockade and for greater international accountability regarding actions taken against humanitarian missions. (ILKHA)