The ordeal of the Vicdan (Conscience) Ship, which set sail into the Mediterranean in an effort to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and was later targeted in a drone attack by the occupying regime, has been brought to the screen in a powerful new documentary.

Titled “The Conscience,” the film premiered at a gala attended by political leaders, civil society representatives, and Gaza solidarity activists.

The Vicdan Ship, prepared under the leadership of the Mavi Marmara Association, had been held at Haydarpaşa Port for six months amid bureaucratic and political obstacles before it was finally able to depart. On May 2, 2025, the vessel came under a drone attack by Israeli forces, an incident that drew significant attention from international media and renewed global debate over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and attacks on humanitarian initiatives.

Produced by Rumman Production, “The Conscience” documents the ship’s preparation process, the deliberate obstructions faced before departure, the drone strike itself, and the aftermath of the attack. The documentary is narrated through the first-hand testimonies of witnesses and participants, offering a detailed account of what organizers describe as a clear assault on a civilian humanitarian mission.

The gala screening was held at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Culture and Sports Center and drew wide participation. Among those in attendance were HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu, AK Party MP Hasan Turan, Future Party MP Sema Silkin Ün, along with numerous representatives of civil society organizations, members of the Sumud Flotilla, participants of the Vicdan Ship, and many invited guests.

The program opened with a Qur’an recitation by Muhammet Kundakçı, followed by a promotional film by the Mavi Marmara Association. A photo presentation titled “Struggle for Freedom” then depicted the long months during which the Vicdan Ship was prevented from leaving Haydarpaşa Port, highlighting the challenges faced by Gaza solidarity efforts even before reaching open waters.

Following the screening, Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu addressed the audience, thanking those who contributed to the documentary and emphasizing the moral importance of Gaza-bound aid initiatives.

“These efforts are invaluable,” Yapıcıoğlu said. “These flotillas—aimed at delivering aid to Gaza and breaking an inhumane blockade—are essential acts of conscience. The images we struggle to watch even for a few minutes are scenes Palestinians have endured every single day for decades.”

Yapıcıoğlu stressed that the oppression in Palestine did not begin recently, tracing it back to the British occupation in 1917, and said the events of October 7, known as the Al-Aqsa Flood, exposed both Gaza’s resistance and the weakness of the international system.

“We have seen that we cannot even deliver aid without seeking permission from Zionists who have lost all sense of humanity,” he said. “This has made it clear that the time has come for a new system and a new world order.”

Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu, referencing the months-long obstruction of the Vicdan Ship at Haydarpaşa, said genuine historical change is only achieved through resistance and sacrifice.

“A heroic story is never written without obstacles,” Davutoğlu stated. “Easy victories may bring fame, but they do not write you into history. There are many Palestinians, but figures like Yahya Sinwar are remembered because they stood firm. There are many people in this world, but the martyrs of the Mavi Marmara are remembered because they acted with courage.”

He added that those who set sail on the Sumud Flotilla, the Freedom Flotilla, and the Vicdan Ship have already taken their place in history. “May Allah be pleased with them,” he said.

Organizers of the documentary said “The Conscience” is not merely a film, but a testimony against Israel’s blockade of Gaza and its targeting of humanitarian solidarity efforts, and a call for global action to end the ongoing siege and suffering of the Palestinian people.

The documentary is expected to be screened at additional venues in Türkiye and abroad in the coming months. (ILKHA)