On Sunday, hundreds of residents, activists, and faith leaders gathered in Mardin’s 15 July Park in the Artuklu district to mark ‘Gaza Solidarity Day,’ answering a global call from the Palestinian resistance movement HAMAS.

The powerful demonstration, organized by local non-governmental organizations, was a vibrant show of solidarity with the people of Gaza, who continue to endure what protesters described as genocidal atrocities committed by the Israeli occupation regime.

The rally featured impassioned speeches, anti-occupation chants, and heartfelt prayers, as the people of Mardin expressed their unwavering support for their Palestinian brothers and sisters facing unimaginable hardship under Israel’s brutal siege.

“Genocide Must End”: A Cry for Justice

Necmettin Başboğa, spokesperson for the Mardin NGO Platform, delivered a searing address, condemning the Israeli regime’s systematic campaign of violence and deprivation in Gaza. “What we are witnessing in Gaza is an affront to humanity and conscience,” Başboğa declared. “Israel’s genocidal policies aim to crush the Palestinian people through starvation, disease, and relentless bombardment. Yet, in the face of such cruelty, our brothers and sisters in Gaza choose resistance over surrender, embracing martyrdom as a badge of honor.”

Başboğa painted a grim picture of life in Gaza, where hospitals are bombed, ambulances are targeted, and essentials like food, water, and medicine are deliberately withheld. “This is not merely a war—it is a calculated genocide, a crime against all of humanity,” he said, urging the world to act.

Historical Parallels and a Call to Resist

Başboğa drew a poignant historical parallel, likening Israel’s actions to the atrocities committed by Dhū Nuwās, a 6th-century Jewish king of the Himyarite Kingdom in Yemen, infamous for his persecution of Christians in Najran.

According to historical accounts, Dhū Nuwās, also known as Yūsuf Asʾar Yathʾar, massacred thousands who refused to renounce their faith, burning churches and executing resistors in a campaign that Islamic tradition associates with the “People of the Trench” (Quran 85:4–10).

“Today, figures like Netanyahu and his allies mirror Dhū Nuwās’s cruelty. But history shows us that oppressors fall. Just as Dhū Nuwās was defeated, so too will today’s tyrants face justice,” he vowed.

The spokesperson lambasted the silence of the 56 Islamic nations and international bodies in the face of Israel’s crimes. “How will we answer to Allah, to history, and to humanity for our inaction?” he asked, demanding the immediate lifting of the Gaza blockade, urgent humanitarian aid, and accountability for Israel’s violations of international law, which have been widely recognized as genocidal.

Boycott and Solidarity

Başboğa called for a global boycott of Israeli products and companies complicit in the occupation, urging governments and individuals to sever all ties with Israeli officials, whom he branded as war criminals. “We cannot stand by as Gaza perishes from hunger and thirst. Supporting Palestine is a sacred duty we must all uphold,” he said.

The event concluded with a moving prayer led by Mardin Provincial Mufti Enver Türkmen, who invoked divine mercy and justice for the oppressed in Gaza.

Mardin’s rally is part of a broader wave of grassroots initiatives across Türkiye and the Muslim world, as communities unite to commemorate July 20 as Gaza Solidarity Day. The movement reflects a growing demand for justice, an end to Israel’s illegal siege, and unwavering support for the resilience and dignity of the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)