Thousands of people poured into the streets of Diyarbakır to mark the anniversary of the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, voicing resounding solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and condemning the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The massive demonstration, organized by the Islamic Civil Society Organizations of Diyarbakır, brought together men and women, young and old, who gathered at the World Junction in Kayapınar district before marching to Roboski Park. There, a public statement was read aloud on behalf of participating organizations by Ali Saruhan, representing the collective conscience of a city long known for its solidarity with the oppressed.

The streets overflowed with chants of “Allahu Akbar!”, waves of Palestinian flags, and placards condemning the Israeli occupation and Western complicity. Families carried photos of martyred children from Gaza, while banners proclaimed, “From Diyarbakır to Gaza: One Ummah, One Struggle.”

Qur’anic call to faithfulness and resistance

Opening with a verse from Surah At-Tawbah (9:4) — “But if they honor their treaty with you, then honor your treaty with them. Indeed, Allah loves the righteous who keep their word” — Saruhan reminded the crowd that standing by the oppressed is both a covenant and a test of faith.

He declared that the genocide in Gaza, now entering its third year, has “destroyed every moral and humanitarian value known to mankind,” as the world remains complicit through silence.

“For 730 days, bombs have rained upon a besieged population. A people has been starved, denied medicine, and deprived of water and shelter — while those who claim to defend human rights watch and debate statistics,” Saruhan said.

“These injustices have become visible since the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”

Saruhan emphasized that the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched on October 7, 2023, was not the beginning of conflict but the moment when hidden crimes became visible to the world.

“For 76 years, the Zionist occupation has expanded its grip over Palestinian land. The Al-Aqsa Flood Operation revealed the true face of an apartheid system that for decades was masked by propaganda and political deception,” he declared.

He noted that Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and all the blessed lands of Palestine continue to await liberation from the boots of occupation.

A 76-year record of crimes against humanity

Citing figures from Palestinian human rights organizations, Saruhan reminded that over 300,000 Palestinians have been killed since 1948, their homes destroyed and their lands confiscated.

“Since October 2023 alone, 75,000 of our brothers and sisters have been martyred — 30,000 of them children, 25,000 women. More than 10,000 remain buried beneath the rubble, uncounted and unnamed,” he said.

He further noted that over one million Palestinians have been imprisoned since 1967, many subjected to torture and inhumane treatment in Israeli jails.

“Today, over ten million Palestinians live in exile, victims of forced displacement — the largest refugee population in the world. Mothers cry out to the heavens, but the so-called international community answers with silence,” he added.

“A world of hypocrisy: one side speaks of law, the other buries its children”

Saruhan denounced the global hypocrisy of states that preach human rights while arming the occupier.

“If the oppressed had even a fraction of the power held by those governments, this genocide would have ended long ago. How many more children must die of hunger before the world feels shame?”

He condemned the Zionist regime’s deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, which has plunged Gaza’s 2.3 million people into starvation, and accused international institutions of serving as “the legal cover for war crimes.”

“On one side, international law is brandished like a slogan. On the other, hundreds of thousands of children live — and die — under siege every single day.”

“The Global Sumud Flotilla carried the conscience of humanity”

Turning to recent international efforts, Saruhan praised the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of civilian vessels that sailed toward Gaza to challenge the naval blockade.

“Those aboard the flotilla showed more courage than entire governments. They set sail not for fame, but for dignity. The Sumud Flotilla carried the honor of humanity upon its sails and reminded the world that courage still exists,” he said.

He criticized global leaders for their cowardice and complicity, adding: “Those who claim to defend human rights could not match the bravery of a handful of citizens who dared to face the occupier at sea.”

“The Al-Aqsa Flood was a turning point for the Ummah”

Saruhan described the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation as “a historical watershed,” one that ended the myth of Zionist invincibility and exposed the hypocrisy of Western states that talk peace while supplying the weapons of genocide.

“The Al-Aqsa Flood Operation was not merely a military action — it was the cry of an oppressed nation after 76 years of occupation. It revealed the true face of global power, which calls for ceasefire in front of cameras while financing war behind closed doors,” he said.

He stressed that HAMAS’s resistance was legitimate self-defense, rooted in faith and national dignity, and that it disrupted Israel’s expansionist project from the Nile to the Euphrates.

“The silence of the Islamic world fuels the fire of oppression”

Saruhan issued a strong rebuke to Arab and Muslim governments that have normalized relations with the Zionist entity, warning them that their silence has emboldened aggression across the region.

“Today it is Gaza under siege — tomorrow it will be Baghdad, Amman, Damascus, Cairo, Ankara, and Istanbul. The occupier knows no limits. Its thirst for blood and land has no end,” he warned.

He likened those seeking favor with Israel and the United States to “prisoners in love with their executioner,” and called on Muslim nations to unite under a new Jerusalem Alliance capable of defending the oppressed.

“The West cannot end the crimes it helped create”

Saruhan argued that trusting Western governments to stop the genocide was futile.

“Expecting justice from the very powers that arm the oppressor is like seeking water in a desert. Bureaucracy and diplomacy have failed to stop the bloodshed. Only the unity of the Ummah and steadfast support for the resistance can restore honor and peace,” he said.

“It is time for action, not slogans”

Concluding his speech with the Qur’anic verse “The wrongdoers will soon know what kind of revolution they will face” (Ash-Shu‘ara 26:227), Saruhan presented a series of demands to Muslim leaders and the international community:

-End empty rhetoric — act decisively against genocide.

-Form a Jerusalem Alliance of regional powers led by Türkiye.

-Support HAMAS’s conditional acceptance of Trump’s plan, which mirrors the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and could pave the way for the liberation of Jerusalem.

-Recognize HAMAS as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, elected by democratic mandate in 2006.

-Enforce international resolutions ensuring permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal, and humanitarian access to Gaza.

-Strengthen military, logistical, and technological support for all resistance fronts.

-Institutionalize the boycott of all Israeli-linked companies — “not for a season, but for life.”

-Immediately pass Türkiye’s pending bill to revoke dual citizenship from Zionist collaborators involved in war crimes.

Saruhan ended with a pledge of continued struggle: “We will not rest until the Zionist regime is swept into the sea and erased from the map. To the heroic people of Gaza, to their steadfast leaders, to every mujahid resisting occupation — may Allah’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.”

A march that echoed beyond Diyarbakır

The march in Diyarbakır was not just a commemoration — it was a reflection of the global awakening around Palestine. From Istanbul to Jakarta, from Johannesburg to Caracas, millions have taken to the streets since 2023 to demand an end to Israel’s occupation and genocide.

In Diyarbakır, the chants rose with one voice: “With our souls, with our blood, we will defend Al-Aqsa!”

For many, this demonstration reaffirmed that the spirit of resistance — sumud — continues to grow stronger, even under fire.

“Gaza has become the mirror of humanity,” said one demonstrator. “Those who stand with Gaza stand with justice itself. Those who stay silent stand with the oppressor.”

As the night got darker in Diyarbakır, the marchers dispersed — but their message remained unmistakable: “The cause of Palestine is not just a political issue. It is the moral compass of humanity.” (ILKHA)