HÜDA PAR (Free Cause Party) Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu has denounced the Israeli regime's attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla as an act of "piracy".

The flotilla, a multinational effort carrying critical supplies to alleviate Gaza's famine, was violently intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters on October 1, sparking global outrage and reigniting protests against Israel's genocidal blockade.

In a statement on X, Yapıcıoğlu declared: “The terrorist regime of Nazi Israel is once again engaging in piracy to divert the Global Sumud Flotilla from its course.” He squarely placed blame on the United States, accusing it of enabling Israel's atrocities through "unlimited support" and complicity in genocide. Labeling the U.S. president as "captive to Zionism," Yapıcıoğlu highlighted the growing wave of protests outside U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, urging supporters of justice to join the movement. “Humanity’s conscience has risen, and God willing, results will be achieved. I invite everyone who can to respond to these calls,” he stated.

The Israeli assault on the flotilla—a fleet of over 50 civilian vessels carrying more than 500 activists, lawmakers, and humanitarians from 44 countries—marks a new low in the regime’s campaign to strangle Gaza. Reports from flotilla organizers confirm that Israeli warships, drones, and commandos rammed vessels, deployed water cannons, and dropped explosive devices and chemical irritants, seizing at least 19 boats and detaining over 450 passengers, including prominent figures like Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela. Despite the violence, approximately 30 vessels continue their defiant journey toward Gaza, now just 60 nautical miles from the coast, embodying the Palestinian principle of sumud—unyielding resilience.

Yapıcıoğlu’s remarks underscore the role of U.S. backing in emboldening Israel’s impunity. The Biden administration’s continued military and financial support—over $12.5 billion in aid since October 2023, per public reports—has fueled Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza, which has killed over 73 Palestinians in the past 24 hours alone and left the enclave in ruins. The blockade, intensified since 2023, has created a humanitarian catastrophe, with UN agencies reporting “catastrophic hunger” and the systematic obstruction of aid deliveries.

Protests are indeed surging globally, as Yapıcıoğlu noted, with thousands taking to the streets in cities like Istanbul, Rome, Paris, and London to condemn Israel’s actions and demand accountability from its chief ally, the United States. In Turkey, crowds gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Ankara, chanting “Free Palestine” and burning American and Israeli flags. Similar scenes unfolded in Brussels, where Belgian activists blockaded roads near the U.S. consulate, and in Rome, where Italian dockworkers launched a strike in solidarity with the flotilla. “The world is waking up to America’s role in this genocide,” said a protester in Istanbul, echoing Yapıcıoğlu’s call to action.

This is not the first time Israel has resorted to maritime piracy to suppress humanitarian missions. The 2010 Mavi Marmara massacre, which killed nine Turkish activists, remains a stark reminder of the regime’s willingness to flout international law. Yet, as Yapıcıoğlu emphasized, the rising tide of global resistance signals hope. From the streets to the seas, the fight for Palestine’s liberation grows stronger, fueled by the courage of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the moral clarity of leaders like Yapıcıoğlu. The call is clear: end the blockade, halt U.S. complicity, and pave the way for a free Palestine. (ILKHA)