Hundreds of citizens in Adana gathered following Friday prayers outside the historic Ulu Mosque in the Seyhan district to condemn Israel's brutal pirate attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Organized under the leadership of the Adana Civil Initiative Assembly (ASİM), the demonstration amplified global outrage against the Zionist regime's latest aggression, which intercepted over 40 humanitarian vessels in international waters, detaining more than 450 brave activists—including prominent figures like Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg—attempting to deliver life-saving aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.

The event, which drew a diverse crowd of local residents, faith leaders, and human rights defenders, opened with a poignant recitation from the Holy Qur’an, setting a tone of spiritual resolve and collective mourning for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. ASİM President Mahmut Eraslan then delivered a fiery press statement on behalf of the assembly, denouncing the Israeli occupation forces' unlawful assault on the flotilla as a blatant violation of international law and a desperate act to perpetuate the starvation and suffering of Palestinian civilians."

This terrorist entity, Zionist Israel, has once again exposed its criminal nature by barbarically intervening in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful mission carrying symbolic humanitarian aid to Gaza's innocent people," Eraslan declared, his voice echoing the pain of a community long committed to justice. "The crews of the intercepted boats—courageous souls from around the world—must be released immediately and unconditionally. Their detention is a grave injustice, and the occupiers bear full responsibility for their safety, ensuring no harm comes to them amid this lawless captivity."

Eraslan's words resonated deeply as he highlighted the escalating dangers faced by the flotilla's participants, who set sail from ports in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in late August 2025, braving the Mediterranean to challenge Israel's illegal 18-year blockade.

 "We are deeply concerned for the safety of these activists, targeted in a vile smear campaign against global solidarity," he continued. "This assault is not just against Gaza's innocents but an attack on humanity's conscience. Since October 2023, the intensified blockade has starved an entire population, with Israel's far-right National Security Minister shamelessly branding these heroes 'terrorists' upon their forced arrival at Ashdod Port—a rhetoric that only heightens our alarm."

The Adana gathering stood in solidarity with the flotilla's mission, the largest of its kind, comprising over 40 civilian boats crewed by parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists determined to establish a maritime corridor and expose the regime's atrocities.

Reports indicate that Israeli naval commandos boarded vessels roughly 75 miles off Gaza's coast late Wednesday, using stun grenades and water cannons in a show of force that drew immediate international condemnation and sparked protests across Europe.

While most boats were seized and towed to Ashdod for deportation, one vessel, the Mikeno, reportedly evaded capture and pressed on toward Palestinian waters, a beacon of defiance amid the crackdown.

In a resounding call to action, Eraslan urged global powers to hold Israel accountable: "States around the world must act now, making it crystal clear they will no longer tolerate Israel’s genocidal starvation of Palestinians or its sabotage of humanitarian lifelines." He specifically implored Türkiye and all nations to sever commercial ties with the occupation regime, launching a widespread solidarity drive for Gaza's reconstruction. "We demand the immediate release of the seized ships and detained volunteers. Civil society, the international community—rise against this illegality! Our people must boycott Israeli and U.S. products relentlessly and flood social media with the plight of the Sumud Flotilla and Gaza's endurance."

The Adana rally, part of a wave of grassroots mobilizations worldwide, underscores the growing momentum for Palestinian liberation. As the flotilla's organizers decry the interceptions as "piracy in international waters," voices like Eraslan's remind us that sumud—steadfast resilience—will not be silenced.

In Gaza, where Israel's offensive has devastated infrastructure and claimed tens of thousands of lives, such acts of international solidarity offer a glimmer of hope against the darkness of occupation. (ILKHA)