Turkish Parliament Demands Israel Release Detained Citizens and MPs

The Turkish parliament has unanimously condemned Israel's interception of humanitarian aid flotillas and demanded the immediate release of detained Turkish citizens, including members of parliament. In a strongly worded motion passed on Wednesday, lawmakers warned Israel "in the strongest terms" against mistreating the detainees and called for their safe return to Türkiye.

The parliamentary motion described Israel's attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters as "a heinous attack" that represents another violation in what it characterized as Israel's history of genocide and war crimes. The statement emphasized that the humanitarian initiative had become "the powerful voice of humanity against the oppression faced by the Palestinians" and condemned the obstruction of aid delivery to Gaza.

The legislature expressed particular concern that three of its members were among those detained aboard the Conscience Ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Parliamentarians declared they would "be the pioneers and persistent pursuers of holding Israeli occupation forces accountable in international courts for all crimes committed against our members of parliament and members of the Sumud and Freedom Flotillas."

The Turkish parliament urged all national legislatures and international parliamentary assemblies to take a united stand against Israel's actions. The motion called for increased pressure to ensure Israel's occupation ends, humanitarian aid reaches Gaza without obstruction, and accountability is established for what it described as crimes committed against Palestinian people and aid volunteers.