Civil society organizations in Türkiye's southeastern province of Batman have called for an immediate end to Israel's attacks on Gaza, the lifting of the years-long blockade and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the besieged Palestinian enclave, urging the international community and the Islamic world to take concrete action to end the ongoing suffering of Palestinians.

The Batman Civil Society Organizations held a massive rally under the theme “Gaza Is Humanity’s Shared Pain” at Atatürk Park, drawing attention to the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's prolonged blockade and continued attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, religious scholars, activists and large numbers of citizens attended the gathering, where participants repeatedly chanted takbir and voiced slogans condemning the Israeli occupation and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The program, moderated by Enes İmir, began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Mehmet Latif Kaya. Ramazan Çelikal subsequently delivered the joint press statement on behalf of the participating organizations.

In his address, Çelikal said Palestinians had been struggling to survive for more than three years amid relentless attacks, an ongoing blockade and a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. He warned that heavy rains and freezing temperatures had further aggravated the suffering of displaced families forced to seek shelter in makeshift tents.

'The freezing cold outside must never cool the consciences within us'

Describing Gaza as a test of humanity's collective conscience, Çelikal said the international community could no longer remain silent in the face of the atrocities inflicted on the Palestinian people.

“We are facing the heaviest trial that history has placed upon our shoulders. Today words are insufficient, sentences are incomplete, and silence is the greatest betrayal,” he said.

Çelikal stressed that Israel's attacks and blockade had transformed Gaza into a place where Palestinians were fighting not only against bombardment but also hunger, freezing temperatures and deliberate deprivation.

“The people of Gaza are no longer only the targets of bombs; they are fighting to survive in the grip of freezing cold, hunger, and deliberate neglect,” he said, describing Israel's policies as an attempt to make the enclave uninhabitable.

Referring to the Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, he said six Palestinians, including healthcare workers, had been martyred. He also cited figures indicating that more than 1,600 Palestinians had been killed since the beginning of the ceasefire process.

Highlighting the enormous human and material losses inflicted on Gaza, Çelikal said international declarations, diplomatic initiatives and promises had failed to halt the suffering on the ground.

He warned that Palestinians who had survived bombardments and the destruction of their homes were now facing death because of shortages of medical treatment, essential medicines and basic necessities.

With the arrival of winter, heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures had further worsened conditions for millions of displaced Palestinians, he said, describing flooded tents, freezing children and elderly people deprived of adequate shelter as the consequences of human-made oppression rather than a natural disaster.

Çelikal also condemned restrictions imposed on humanitarian assistance, saying that blankets, tents, medicines and other essential supplies waiting at Gaza's crossings were being prevented from reaching those in desperate need.

“What is even worse is that not even a single nail needed to rebuild the destroyed cities is allowed into the region,” he said, warning that Palestinians were being deliberately confined to conditions of mud, rubble and despair.

“We will not grow accustomed to this oppression in Gaza; we will never allow this crime against humanity to be normalized, to fall off the agenda, or to become just another ordinary news item.”

He added: “The freezing cold outside must never cool the consciences within us; on the contrary, it must ignite the fire of solidarity more strongly than ever.”

'Humanitarian aid must not be used as a weapon of war'

Calling on international institutions, governments and decision-makers to fulfill their humanitarian and legal responsibilities, Çelikal demanded an immediate end to Israeli attacks and the complete lifting of restrictions on humanitarian assistance.

“This is our open call to the entire world and to decision-makers: The occupying power's uninterrupted attacks must be stopped; this suffocating blockade—where border crossings are kept virtually locked and even a single bite of bread, a sip of water, a drop of medicine, and fuel are almost completely blocked—must be broken immediately,” he said.

He emphasized that humanitarian assistance must never be turned into an instrument of war or collective punishment.

“The use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war and a tool of collective punishment must end at once, and the gates must be permanently opened so that aid can reach the people of Gaza without any restrictions,” he said.

Çelikal also called for the immediate entry of heavy machinery, technical equipment and construction materials needed to rebuild destroyed homes, restore basic infrastructure and provide Palestinians with decent living conditions.

Urging continued public solidarity, he called on people to keep raising their voices in streets, public squares and digital platforms, while intensifying economic boycotts and humanitarian aid campaigns in response to the worsening winter conditions.

He further urged the United Nations and other international institutions to take meaningful action to protect civilians, ensure access to essential humanitarian assistance and hold those responsible for violations accountable.

'Turning a deaf ear to Gaza's cries makes one complicit in the siege'

Addressing leaders of the Arab and Islamic world, Çelikal urged Muslim governments to move beyond diplomatic statements and use their political, economic and diplomatic influence to help end Israel's blockade and attacks on Gaza.

“O leaders of the Arab and Islamic world: You are walking toward the heaviest reckoning you will give before history and the conscience of the ummah,” he said.

He criticized the continued reliance on diplomatic condemnations while Palestinians endure hunger, thirst, bombardment and displacement.

“While your brothers are being disciplined by hunger, thirst, and fire, your taking refuge in the limits of diplomatic courtesy and contenting yourselves with written statements of condemnation is no longer acceptable,” he said.

“Turning a deaf ear to the cries rising beyond the borders is to become a partner in this siege,” Çelikal added, calling on Muslim leaders to mobilize their political, economic and diplomatic capabilities to confront the oppression.

He stressed that history would remember those who stood with the oppressed and condemn those who chose silence in the face of injustice.

Concluding his remarks, Çelikal reaffirmed the participating organizations' commitment to standing alongside the Palestinian people until the occupation's oppression ends, the blockade is lifted and Gaza is able to recover.

“We will always listen to this voice coming from Gaza and Palestine, regard Gaza's unceasing cry as our own, and continue to raise our voices until the oppression ends, the siege is broken, and Gaza can breathe again,” he said.

The gathering concluded with a prayer led by Molla Abdurrahman İçlek, with participants reaffirming their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their determination to keep Gaza on the international agenda. (ILKHA)