The Prophet’s Lovers Foundation (Peygamber Sevdalıları Vakfı) organized a rally in Diyarbakır to draw attention to the ongoing genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Marking more than two and a half years since the escalation that began on October 7, 2023, speakers described Gaza as the site of one of the gravest humanitarian catastrophes of the 21st century. The event combined religious reflection, political criticism, and humanitarian appeals, with organizers emphasizing that the Palestinian issue remains central to the conscience of the Muslim world.

Participants carried banners expressing solidarity with Gaza and chanted slogans demanding an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access. The atmosphere was solemn but resolute, reflecting both grief over civilian casualties and anger over global inaction.

“A Moral Responsibility for the Ummah”

Molla Remzi Uçar, a member of the İTTİHADUL ULEMA Executive Board, delivered the keynote speech. He framed the situation in Gaza not only as a geopolitical crisis but as a moral and spiritual test for Muslims worldwide.

With Ramadan approaching, Uçar urged believers to reconnect with the Qur’an and to reflect deeply on its teachings about justice, oppression, and steadfastness.

“Ramadan is not only a month of fasting,” he said. “It is a month of awakening, of returning to divine guidance, and of standing firm against injustice. If we truly understand the Qur’an, we cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in Gaza.”

While sharply criticizing Israeli military operations, Uçar focused his remarks on the systemic policies that have resulted in large-scale civilian suffering. He argued that the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters reflects a broader strategy aimed at breaking the will of the Palestinian people.

He also called on Muslim-majority governments to adopt stronger diplomatic and economic measures, stating that symbolic condemnations are no longer sufficient.

Civilian Toll and Humanitarian Collapse

Following Uçar’s speech, Mehmet Emin Gülsever read the foundation’s official statement.

Opening with verses from the Qur’an, Gülsever described Gaza as “a land of rubble, mass displacement, and unbearable grief.” He cited casualty figures indicating that tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with many more injured and thousands still missing beneath destroyed buildings.

According to the statement, civilian infrastructure has been devastated at an unprecedented scale. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, electricity networks crippled, water systems destroyed, and hospitals rendered inoperable.

“Hospitals operate without fuel. Surgeons perform operations without adequate anesthesia. Families search through rubble with their bare hands,” Gülsever said. “This is not simply war — it is a humanitarian collapse unfolding before the eyes of the world.”

He emphasized that children have borne a disproportionate share of the suffering, with many orphaned, injured, or killed. The foundation described Gaza’s displaced population — numbering in the millions — as facing acute shortages of food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.

Ceasefire Violations and International Silence

The speakers underlined that ceasefire agreements have repeatedly failed to hold, with renewed bombardments and continued restrictions on aid deliveries undermining diplomatic efforts.

Gülsever criticized the “normalization of destruction,” asserting that repeated condemnations from international leaders have not translated into meaningful pressure or sanctions.

“Statements of concern cannot stop bombs,” he said. “If international law has meaning, then it must be applied consistently. If human rights are universal, then Palestinian lives must be protected as vigorously as any others.”

Organizers framed the crisis as a test of the international system itself, arguing that selective enforcement of humanitarian norms erodes global credibility and deepens instability.

Calls for Concrete Measures

The foundation outlined a detailed list of demands directed at governments and international organizations:

-Immediate and unconditional opening of Gaza’s border crossings

-Safe and continuous delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, fuel, water, and temporary housing

-A permanent, internationally guaranteed ceasefire

-Arms embargoes and targeted sanctions to prevent further civilian harm

-Independent investigations into reported war crimes

-Sustained diplomatic efforts to secure Palestinian self-determination.

-Expansion of global boycott initiatives targeting companies linked to the war effort.

Speakers emphasized that economic pressure, public advocacy, and civil society mobilization remain powerful tools when governments fail to act decisively. (ILKHA)