Human rights activists, legal experts, and representatives of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition gathered at a press conference in Istanbul on Tuesday to condemn a drone attack by the Israeli military on the "Ship of Conscience," a humanitarian vessel aimed at breaking the Gaza blockade.

The ship was struck by two drones in international waters near Malta on May 1, an incident described as a brazen escalation of Israel’s aggression.

The event, supported by the Worldwide Lawyers Association, Özgür Der, and MAZLUMDER, spotlighted the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the international community’s failure to halt the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Beheşti İsmail Songür, president of the Mavi Marmara Association and Türkiye representative for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, who was aboard the ship during the attack, delivered a scathing critique of Israel’s actions. He accused the state of pursuing a relentless “policy of blood, gunpowder, and tears” since its founding in 1948, with recent escalations marking a new low. “Israel has massacred children, the elderly, and civilians in front of the world, while subjecting Gaza to starvation,” Songür said, referencing the blockade that has choked the region’s access to food, medicine, and basic supplies. He emphasized the coalition’s decades-long collaboration with 12 countries to deliver aid and end the blockade, lamenting the inaction of global leaders. “We’ve met with the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Mediterranean nations, but populism, politics, and trade have overshadowed the genocide,” he stated.

Songür underscored the necessity of civilian action in the face of state inaction, declaring: “In a place where genocide is taking place, you have to take risks.” He urged nations to sever trade, close ports, and cut political ties with Israel, while calling on civilians to pressure governments to act. Describing the attack, Songür detailed a coordinated assault: the ship’s internet and electricity were severed, emergency signals were jammed, and two drones struck, igniting a fire and breaching the hull. He noted suspicious activity, including a low-flying Israeli military aircraft over Malta and a fast boat that approached the ship, turned off its signal, and vanished. “This attack, 2,000 kilometers from Palestine in the heart of Europe, proves Israel is a threat to world peace,” Songür asserted, warning that no ship in European waters is safe and accusing Israel of violating Türkiye’s Mediterranean sovereignty.

Hüseyin Dişli, legal advisor to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, outlined efforts to secure justice. He reported that Maltese authorities initially resisted cooperation, only relenting after pressure from Palestinian advocates and a statement from Malta’s prime minister. Dişli announced that European parliamentarians would soon arrive in Malta to observe the investigation, stressing the need for an impartial, international probe. “We’ve called on the UN and European Parliament to ensure transparency, but obstacles remain,” he said, accusing some parties of obstructing accountability.

Ekrem Kubilay Karadeniz, speaking on behalf of the coalition, lambasted world leaders for their silence, accusing them of “playing three monkeys” while Gaza’s children die of hunger and violence. He cited UN reports confirming famine-level starvation in Gaza, where blockades prevent even basic supplies from entering. “The conscience of humanity has awakened, but states only offer condemnation texts instead of stopping the genocide,” Karadeniz said. He reaffirmed the coalition’s mission, formed in 2006 to break Gaza’s inhumane blockade, noting its 16 humanitarian missions, including the 2010 Mavi Marmara attack, where Israeli forces killed nine activists. The Ship of Conscience, he said, was a continuation of this legacy, and the coalition would not be deterred. “Despite Israel’s treacherous attack, we will launch flotillas until the blockade is lifted,” he vowed.

The press conference also featured remarks from Özgür Der President Rıdvan Kaya and MAZLUMDER Vice President Ali Öner, who echoed the call for global action. Kaya condemned the attack as a violation of international law and human dignity, while Öner urged solidarity with Gaza’s people, describing the blockade as a “slow-motion genocide.” Both leaders praised the coalition’s courage and demanded accountability for Israel’s actions.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, comprising activists from Europe, Türkiye, Asia, and beyond, has faced repeated obstacles, with many countries pressured by Israel to block its missions. The attack on the Ship of Conscience, far from Gaza’s shores, was described as a message to the world: Israel’s reach extends beyond Palestine, threatening global security. Speakers called for an urgent international response, including trade sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and grassroots movements to pressure governments. As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with over 52,000 reported deaths since October 2023, the coalition’s mission remains a beacon of resistance against the ongoing genocide. (ILKHA)