Global Sumud Flotilla Activists Arrive in Türkiye, to Undergo Health Examinations in Istanbul
Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were detained by Israeli forces after their vessels were attacked in international waters, arrived in Türkiye on Saturday afternoon, Turkish officials confirmed.
A plane carrying 137 activists — including 36 Turkish and 23 Malaysian citizens — landed at Istanbul Airport at 3:50 p.m. local time (1250 GMT) after departing from Ramon Airport in Eilat, Israel.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that the activists will undergo comprehensive medical evaluations upon their arrival. “Following an attack that disregarded international law, our activist brothers and sisters who have arrived in our country will receive health examinations at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute at their request, and their physical and psychological conditions will be carefully checked,” Tunc said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
He added that, following the medical examinations, 11 public prosecutors will take the activists’ statements for informational purposes.
Praising the humanitarian participants, Tunc stated: “Brave hearts who do not remain silent in the face of oppression and stand with the people of Palestine are not just activists; they are true heroes carrying the conscience of humanity and serving as the voice of justice.”
Condemning Israel’s actions, the minister said that the “unlawful intervention in international waters, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, is an attack on truth, solidarity, and peace.”
The activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid to Gaza and challenging Israel’s blockade of the enclave. The flotilla was intercepted earlier this week, with over 470 activists from more than 50 countries detained by Israeli forces.
Türkiye has been actively engaged in efforts to secure the release of the detained activists, coordinating diplomatic channels through the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
