Hundreds of activists, scholars, families, and grassroots groups filled the streets of Diyarbakır’s Kayapınar district on Sunday evening to denounce Israel’s genocide and to rally behind the Global Sumud Flotilla – the largest civilian maritime mission ever organized to challenge the blockade of Gaza.

The gathering, held at Yenihal Köprülü Junction, was spearheaded by a coalition of Islamic NGOs and civil society organizations, who framed the rally as both a defense of Gaza and an indictment of global complicity. With Palestinian flags waving above the crowd, chants of “Free Gaza, Down with Zionism,” and “Long Live Global Sumud” rang through the air, turning Diyarbakır into a powerful voice for the besieged people of Palestine.

The demonstration honored the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of more than 50 vessels and 1,000 activists from 44 countries, now sailing through the Mediterranean to break Israel’s naval blockade. Organizers described the flotilla as carrying “not just aid, but the conscience of humanity,” at a time when Gaza suffers both bombardment and famine.

Figures aboard the flotilla include Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, and former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, alongside parliamentarians and human rights advocates from across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Despite storms, repairs, and Israeli threats of interception, the flotilla presses ahead – a journey celebrated by Diyarbakır’s rally as a historic act of defiance.

Opening the event, Ömer Çelik, Chairman of the Martyrs Caravan Platform and board member of the Prophet Lovers Foundation, condemned the inaction of Muslim rulers in the face of genocide: “We cannot expect support for oppressed Muslims from rulers who have abandoned their honor and dignity. The world today is divided between the brave and the cowardly. Victory will belong to the brave—those who sacrifice for truth and justice.”

He contrasted the courage of non-Muslim activists risking their lives aboard the flotilla with the cowardice of governments in the Muslim world: “While Muslim leaders, with their armies and wealth, cower in palaces and conference halls, Christians and people of conscience are sailing to Gaza. This is a shameful indictment of those who claim to lead the Ummah.”

His fiery words drew applause, chants of “Allahu Akbar!” and renewed calls from the crowd for genuine unity and action.

Çelik went further, dismantling the illusion of a powerful Islamic bloc: “We are told there are 57 Muslim states and two billion Muslims. If that were true, how could eight million Zionists impose such destruction on the Ummah? These numbers are hollow. The truth is, we have been betrayed from within.”

He praised Diyarbakır’s unwavering tradition of resistance, comparing the city’s resilience to Gaza’s steadfastness (sumud). “Diyarbakır has always stood with the oppressed. Today we stand not just with Gaza, but with every soul resisting tyranny,” he said.

Following his speech, Recep Doğru, from the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation’s Diyarbakır branch, read the coalition’s joint statement. It framed the flotilla as more than ships – a lifeline of dignity and a call to action: “This flotilla carries the voice of Gaza, the breath of its martyrs, and the unyielding determination of a people who refuse to kneel. From Barcelona to Tunis, from Sicily to Diyarbakır, the oppressed and the free have united to confront Zionist tyranny.”

Doğru recounted the staggering toll of Israel’s onslaught since October 2023: nearly 70,000 Palestinians killed, including 35,000 children and 25,000 women; more than 162,000 injured, many permanently disabled; and over 20,000 still trapped under rubble.

He also condemned Israel’s weaponization of famine: 387 Palestinians, including 138 children, have died from starvation, while almost a million children suffer malnutrition. “This is not war—it is genocide,” he declared. “Every day, babies and children die because the world refuses to act.”

The NGOs issued a set of bold demands directed at Muslim states, urging Türkiye to take the lead in confronting Zionist aggression. Chief among these demands was the formation of a Jerusalem (Al-Quds) Alliance, a united Islamic front to coordinate military, political, and economic action against Israel. They called for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the blockade, ensuring Gaza’s ports and crossings are opened without restrictions.

The NGOs also pressed for full political and material support for the Palestinian resistance, particularly Hamas, which they hailed as “the Kuva-yi Milliye of our time.” Another demand included the enactment of laws to strip citizenship from Turks complicit in Zionist crimes, alongside a complete halt to all trade with Israel, covering both direct and indirect commerce, including oil routed through intermediaries. Finally, they urged the deployment of a Muslim peacekeeping force tasked with securing aid corridors and protecting Gaza’s besieged civilians.

The statement closed with a resounding call for a lifelong boycott of Israel and its allies: “Boycott is not a seasonal campaign. It is a moral duty, a lifelong struggle. Until this illegitimate occupation is erased from the map, we must resist with every choice we make.”

For decades, Diyarbakır has been a nerve center of solidarity with Palestine, sending aid convoys, hosting mass demonstrations, and pressing for stronger policies against Israel. The rally reinforced the city’s place as a “city of sumud,” whose own history of resilience resonates with Gaza’s struggle for survival.

The Diyarbakır rally underscored that the Palestinian struggle is not confined to Gaza – it is a global struggle of conscience. As the Global Sumud Flotilla advances across the Mediterranean despite storms, threats, and blockades, the people of Diyarbakır pledged their prayers, voices, and resistance.

The rally ended with a collective prayer: “From Diyarbakır to Gaza, from the Mediterranean to Jerusalem – our struggle continues until Israeli occupation is erased and Palestine is free.” (ILKHA)