As the genocidal assault on Gaza drags on, calls for mass mobilization in support of Palestine are being echoed across Türkiye.

One of the most powerful recent statements came from Ali Yalçın, the President of Memur-Sen (The Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions), who strongly emphasized the central importance of an economic boycott of companies complicit in the Israeli occupation and aggression.

Speaking to İlke News Agency, Yalçın argued that boycotting corporations that sponsor the Israeli regime is not merely an economic measure but a moral obligation that transcends national boundaries. “Boycott is not only about what we don’t buy,” he said. “It is a mirror of our moral consistency and our humanitarian values.”

“It is a great inconsistency to consume these products while children are dying in Gaza”

With summer approaching and consumption of certain products—particularly ice cream brands like Algida—rising sharply, Yalçın highlighted the urgent need for ethical consumerism. “The scorching weather should not melt away our conscience,” he said. “It is a great inconsistency to enjoy such products while children in Gaza are being burned alive under bombs.”

He stressed that standing with the oppressed doesn’t always require marching on the streets. “Every purchase is a political act. Every lira spent is either a contribution to justice or complicity in oppression.”

“The financiers of genocide must be named and shamed”

Yalçın pointed to the global corporate network that supports Israeli apartheid, stressing that many of these companies have an active presence in Türkiye. “These companies are not merely businesses,” he said. “They are the financial arteries of the Zionist regime. They are the ones filling the bullets, supplying the tanks, and lobbying for impunity in Western capitals.”

He added, “If we analyze the Zionist occupation only through Netanyahu or the soldiers on the battlefield, we are missing the bigger picture. The true war machine includes multinational corporations that arm, fund, and whitewash Israeli war crimes. These companies are the shadow army of occupation.”

“Boycott is the voice of the street, the soul of the nation”

Recalling the iconic incident from last summer where children in Istanbul collectively rejected an Algida ice cream truck from their school grounds, Yalçın praised their courage. “Those children, with nothing but a whistle and a conscience, took a more moral stance than many adults. That moment showed us the true power of grassroots activism,” he said.

He continued: “Parents must follow the example of their children. Refusing to allow boycotted products into homes, schools, or public institutions is the first step toward a collective moral awakening.”

"States must act, but the public must never rest"

While Yalçın acknowledged that state-level action is vital for stopping the Israeli aggression, he stressed that public activism must not be sidelined. “Yes, we call on states to act. But people must not abdicate responsibility. If states delay, the streets must speak. The boycott movement is not just about Palestine; it is about our shared humanity.”

He emphasized that the boycott is both a pressure mechanism and a form of education. “When a child demands a boycotted product, tell them: ‘This isn’t just candy or ice cream. This is a bullet in Gaza.’ That lesson is more powerful than any textbook. Through boycott, we raise morally conscious generations.”

"Gaza will be free—and history will ask where we stood"

Ending his remarks with a powerful reflection, Yalçın said, “For decades, Gaza has stood defiant. Despite relentless bombardment, they have not bowed to Zionism. The day of liberation will come. But history will ask each of us: Where did you stand? Did you speak up or stay silent? Did you fund genocide or resist it?”

He concluded: “Boycott is the path of the righteous. It is the moral compass of the oppressed. It is the global intifada of conscience. Let us walk that path with consistency, sincerity, and courage.” (ILKHA)