The Prophet Lovers Foundation (Peygamber Sevdalıları Vakfı) issued a public statement in Diyarbakır, southeastern Türkiye, calling on ceasefire guarantor countries and international organizations to take immediate action over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In a press statement delivered during a massive rally in Diyarbakır, southeastern Türkiye, the foundation warned that heavy rainfall, flooding, freezing temperatures and the continued Israeli blockade have made life increasingly unbearable for displaced Palestinians, particularly children, women, elderly people and patients.

The statement was read by İbrahim Yaz, a member of the board of directors of the Diyarbakır Prophet Lovers Association, on behalf of the Prophet Lovers Foundation, in the Ofis neighborhood of Yenişehir district.

Addressing the gathering, Yaz said Gaza had been enduring one of the most devastating periods of destruction in modern history since October 7, 2023, with relentless Israeli military attacks destroying entire neighborhoods, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians, leaving many others permanently disabled and devastating essential infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and other civilian facilities.

He added that millions of Palestinians had been displaced from their homes and continued to face enormous difficulties in accessing basic necessities.

'Winter conditions have made tent camps uninhabitable'

Drawing attention to the worsening humanitarian situation, Yaz said Palestinians who had survived Israel's devastating bombardment were now struggling to survive in makeshift tents without adequate protection from the harsh winter weather.

"People in Gaza cannot even return to their neighborhoods reduced to ruins and their destroyed homes. They are struggling to survive in makeshift nylon tents, deprived of the most basic human needs," he said.

He warned that heavy rain, freezing temperatures, storms and flooding had turned already inadequate displacement camps into increasingly uninhabitable places.

"Babies, children, the elderly and chronic patients, deprived of heating facilities, clean drinking water, sufficient food and the most basic health services, are today struggling for survival not only under the bombs but also in the grip of hunger, epidemic diseases and freezing cold," Yaz said.

He accused the Israeli occupation of continuing to use hunger and deprivation as instruments of pressure against the Palestinian population, adding that the international community could no longer ignore the suffering of Gaza's civilians.

'Blocking humanitarian aid is a war crime and a crime against humanity'

Yaz also condemned Israel's continued restrictions on humanitarian assistance, the closure of border crossings and obstacles preventing the entry of essential shelter and reconstruction materials into Gaza.

He said the obstruction of humanitarian aid corridors, restrictions on equipment needed to remove rubble, and the prevention of winter shelter materials from reaching displaced families constituted grave violations of international humanitarian law.

"The arbitrary closure of humanitarian aid corridors, the prevention of the entry of debris-removal equipment and winter shelter materials into the region, the keeping of border crossings closed, and the sabotage of the people's safe return to their own lands and homes are clear war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said.

Yaz criticized the silence and inaction of countries acting as mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire, as well as the United Nations and other international institutions.

He said institutions that had long emphasized human rights, children's rights and international humanitarian law had failed to uphold those principles when it came to protecting Palestinians.

"International law, human rights declarations and the global conscience have remained under the rubble of Gaza," Yaz said, adding that diplomatic statements and expressions of condemnation were insufficient to provide food, warmth and shelter to suffering Palestinian families.

Foundation urges guarantor countries to exert pressure on Israel

Addressing international organizations, guarantor countries and Muslim leaders, Yaz outlined a series of urgent demands to prevent further humanitarian suffering in Gaza.

He called on mediator and guarantor countries to activate diplomatic, political and practical pressure mechanisms to ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, an end to Israeli attacks and the complete lifting of the blockade.

He stressed that humanitarian assistance must enter Gaza without restrictions, including tents, prefabricated housing units, heating equipment, fuel, clean drinking water, food and medical supplies.

Yaz also called for an internationally binding and time-bound action plan to remove rubble, facilitate the safe return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and launch the reconstruction of the devastated territory.

He urged the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to uphold their founding principles and take concrete measures against Israel's continued violations.

'The Islamic world must not abandon Gaza'

Yaz particularly appealed to Muslim-majority countries to move beyond statements of solidarity and mobilize their political, economic and humanitarian resources to support Palestinians.

"The Islamic world must not leave our brothers and sisters in Gaza alone under these heavy winter conditions and the siege; it must go beyond messages of condemnation, mobilize all its political, economic and humanitarian means, and break this inhuman siege," he said.

He emphasized that defending Gaza was not merely a regional or political responsibility but a matter of human dignity, conscience and solidarity with an oppressed people.

'We will continue standing with the oppressed people of Gaza'

Reaffirming the foundation's commitment to the Palestinian cause, Yaz said the organization would continue supporting Gaza through public demonstrations, humanitarian assistance and efforts to draw international attention to the suffering of its people.

"As the Prophet Lovers Foundation, just as yesterday, today we will continue with determination to stand by the just cause of the oppressed people of Gaza, to shout their cry from the squares, and to heal their wounds with humanitarian aid," he said.

He called on people of conscience, civil society organizations, media representatives and government officials to take immediate action before worsening winter conditions claim more lives.

"We invite all people of conscience, civil society organizations, members of the media and responsible state officials to take urgent action for Gaza before it is too late and before the winter conditions lead to new tragedies," Yaz added. (ILKHA)