Palestinian writer Dr. Osama al-Ashqar delivered an emotional address on Gaza’s resilience and the Palestinian struggle during a conference titled “Gaza Yesterday and Today” in the eastern Turkish province of Bitlis.

Organized by the Bitlis Palestine Platform, the conference brought together participants to discuss Gaza’s history, the devastating consequences of Israel’s ongoing war on the besieged territory and the steadfastness of its people in the face of immense suffering.

Held at the Bitlis Cultural Center, the event opened with a Quran recitation by Afghan hafiz Yunus Mahmudi. It was followed by a video presentation focusing on Gaza and the Palestinian resistance.

In his opening remarks, Cengiz Karakaya, spokesperson for the Bitlis Palestine Platform, said Palestine was not simply a geographical name but a universal cause encompassing justice, freedom, human dignity and solidarity with oppressed people.

Karakaya also addressed rising social tensions and incidents of violence in Türkiye, urging people to reject anger and confrontation and take greater responsibility for those around them.

“A moment of anger can turn into irreversible pain,” Karakaya said, calling on citizens to control their tempers, avoid violence and refuse to remain silent in the face of violent acts.

He urged parents to guide their children, elders to support young people and members of the community to look after their neighbors, stressing that society’s responsibility should be to calm disputes rather than escalate them and to promote reconciliation rather than division.

Al-Ashqar highlights Gaza’s steadfastness

Addressing the conference, al-Ashqar focused on the extraordinary resilience of Gaza’s population, saying Palestinians had demonstrated remarkable patience and steadfastness despite what he described as genocide, massacres and relentless Israeli attacks.

He said Gaza’s women and men, elderly people and children had shown the world what true perseverance means, maintaining their dignity and determination despite the immense human cost of the war.

Al-Ashqar also highlighted the legacy of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the late Palestinian religious and political leader and founder of Hamas, crediting him with helping transform Gaza’s social and religious landscape.

Despite his severe physical disabilities, Yassin played a significant role in encouraging Palestinians to strengthen their connection with the Quran and Islamic values, al-Ashqar said.

The Palestinian researcher also reflected on the Al-Aqsa Flood operation of October 7, 2023, discussing the lives, imprisonment and struggles of Palestinian resistance leaders, including the late Yahya Sinwar.

He described the extensive tunnel network beneath Gaza and the difficult conditions under which Palestinian fighters operated. According to al-Ashqar, resistance groups developed and manufactured weapons and military equipment despite the blockade and severe restrictions imposed on the territory.

He further claimed that the October 7 operation inflicted significant losses on Israeli forces and argued that the full extent of those losses had not been reflected in Israeli and international media coverage.

Gaza’s suffering and resilience

Turning to the ongoing war, al-Ashqar said Gaza had become a powerful example of patience and steadfastness in the face of extraordinary suffering.

He described Palestinians as continuing to endure bombardment, displacement, destruction and severe shortages while refusing to abandon their homeland.

Particular emphasis was placed on the role of Palestinian women, whose resilience and sacrifices, he said, should not be forgotten.

Al-Ashqar called on supporters of Palestine around the world to continue standing with Gaza and urged sustained humanitarian assistance for Palestinians facing devastating conditions.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining international solidarity with the Palestinian people and ensuring that humanitarian aid continues to reach civilians in Gaza.

The conference concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by a prayer led by Emrullah Uysal. (ILKHA)