Politics
Global flotilla for Gaza aims to set sail again soon with Turks aboard
The Freedom and Sumud Flotilla, a successor of the original Global Sumud Flotilla that almost reached besieged Gaza last year, will set sail again on April 12. The Turkish delegation of activists who will join the campaign held a news conference on Wednesday in Istanbul to explain their plans to navigate the dangerous waters to the Palestinian enclave amid Israeli aggression.
The flotilla will host thousands of activists from more than 150 countries who will travel aboard more than 100 vessels and small boats. They plan to leave Spain on April 12.
Dilek Tekocak, a spokesperson for the Turkish activists, informed the press on how they would proceed and how the flotilla differed from the previous one.
The Global Sumud Flotilla reignited hope across the world for support for Palestinians suffering at the hands of Israel. Although the flotilla was intercepted miles away from Gaza, the activists detained by Israel received a hero’s welcome in their countries, cementing growing resistance to Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza across the world. Nowadays, Hamas and Israel maintain a cease-fire, although Israel repeatedly violates it. Though killings by the Israeli army have been reduced, violations are ongoing while Gazans still strive to survive in winter conditions and amid a vast concrete jungle of rubble left by constant bombardment.
Tekocak said the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has moved beyond a crisis and evolved into systemic destruction and genocide. She noted that months of blockades, closed borders, interrupted humanitarian aid, targeted health infrastructure and severe violations of the rights of civilians deliberately ended Palestinians’ right to live. She noted that 132 days have passed since the declaration of a cease-fire, but what was portrayed as “calm” in Gaza was, in reality, a form of continued chokehold on Palestinians as it sustained the blockade. “The cease-fire has been violated more than 1,000 times in its first 100 days, and 477 Palestinians were killed,” she noted.
She added that the flotilla was a demonstration of global civilian resistance. “This is not merely a humanitarian aid campaign that emerged when international mechanisms proved to be insufficient. This is also a peaceful civilian objection on a global scale to the illegitimacy of the blockade,” Tekocak noted.
The flotilla will be joined by delegations from more than 50 countries after it departs from Spain and will stop by Italy, Tunisia and other Mediterranean ports.
“Along with aid, it will carry health care workers, educators, infrastructure construction crews, jurists and war crimes researchers,” Tekocak said, noting that more than 1,000 doctors, nurses and health care professionals would be among participants.
“Since Oct. 7, 76,230 civilians, including women and children, have been killed, and 174,000 people have been wounded. Nearly the entire population has been forcibly displaced at least once. Access to water has decreased by 98%, and nearly all international humanitarian aid missions have been blocked. Under these conditions, a cease-fire does not serve as protection for Palestinians but instead becomes a cover that spreads the management of death and destruction over time. The blockade is not merely a security measure. It constitutes a human-made famine, calorie control and strategic starvation. It is one of the primary instruments of a regime of colonial domination and destruction aimed at genocide,” she underlined.
Tekocak said that with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803, U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza received the U.N. seal and gained legal status, and that Gaza was effectively deemed worthy of a governance model amounting to foreign, colonial trusteeship.
A new debate has emerged in recent days over school activities related to Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, after a group of 168 signatories, including journalists, artists and academics, issued a statement titled the “Secularism Declaration.” The statement, which critics said echoed the rhetoric of the Feb. 28 postmodern coup era, sparked widespread public reaction. Experts, however, argue that such informational and cultural activities are not in violation of secularism.
“If a declaration interprets secularism in a way that categorically excludes the public visibility of religion, or disregards the constitutional framework concerning religious education and religious practices, such an approach contradicts the freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 24. It even amounts to an assault on fundamental freedoms,” Zakir Avşar, a professor from Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, told Daily Sabah.
In the statement titled “We Defend Secularism Together,” 168 writers, artists, academics, journalists and representatives of professional organizations claimed that Ramadan activities were a violation of a secular state, saying, “We will not surrender to darkness.”
Reminding that Article 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye stipulates that everyone has the right to declare, practice and worship in accordance with their religious beliefs and religious and moral education shall be conducted under the supervision and control of the state, and that compulsory courses on religious culture and ethics shall be included in the curriculum, Avşar stressed that, “Secularism does not mean hostility toward religion; rather, it signifies that the state maintains equal distance from all beliefs and ensures freedom of religion.”
National Education (MEB) Minister Yusuf Tekin also said the declaration reminded him of the Feb. 28 process, describing it as a malicious statement based on mind-reading.
“In their view, celebrating Christmas or Halloween is not contrary to secularism, but when it comes to Ramadan activities that reflect the continuation of our cultural heritage, secularism somehow comes to mind.”
Tekin also announced that he would initiate legal proceedings against the signatories, arguing that the text was ill-intentioned and ideological.
“Just as they exercise their democratic rights, I will exercise mine,” Tekin said.
Avşar noted that the Feb. 28 process marked a period in Türkiye when secularism was applied within a rigid, exclusionary and prohibitive framework. In the field of education in particular, practices such as persuasion rooms, headscarf bans and the coefficient system, along with restrictive measures targeting religious practices, resulted in violations of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Given this historical background, he said, “any tendency to reinterpret secularism through a prohibitive and uniform approach inevitably evokes memories of that era.”
On Feb. 28, 1997 military memorandum was issued by Türkiye’s National Security Council (MGK), which has since been dubbed the “postmodern coup.” The coup was no different than others otherwise. It targeted certain members of the public and kept fear of military intervention alive whenever powerful generals disliked the government.
During the period, the lives of millions took a sharp turn after the Turkish army, then still adhering to a tradition of self-claimed “tutelage” of Türkiye’s secular elite, joined forces with the judiciary organs in vehement opposition to what they called “reactionary forces” in power. This especially affected women expelled from schools for wearing headscarves and men deemed “too conservative” to hold public sector jobs and were fired, as well as others who suffered threats and lengthy legal processes.
Moreover, Tacettin Kutay, an academic at Turkish-German University and a columnist expert argued that the core characteristic of French Enlightenment thought and its model of secularism is built on disregarding the “other” and, if possible, eliminating elements associated with it.
“Unfortunately, in Türkiye, those who describe themselves as secular have largely shaped their intellectual framework based on French Enlightenment traditions and therefore do not operate outside that practice. For this reason, we consistently witness that those involved in these debates express discomfort with the very existence of the other side,” he said.
Previously, Suat Özçağdaş, head of the Education Policy Board of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), told reporters at Parliament that the government prefers opening Quran courses and described those as structures of “unclear nature.” Accusing the Education Ministry of paving the way for religious orders and communities, Özçağdaş said, “You are hostile to secular education; you are hostile to Türkiye’s secularism.”
Kutay further remarked that it remains unclear what, specifically, has caused discomfort over Ramadan-related activities in schools. “Was any child forced to fast? Was there an imposition outside the curriculum? No,” he said, adding that the reaction appears to stem from unease among those who do not accept that religious elements are also part of cultural heritage.
He concluded that Islam, which constitutes a part of Türkiye’s cultural heritage, is consistently rejected by what he described as an aggressive minority, whose demands are being imposed despite representing a minority view.
“As in nearly every year, the approach of Ramadan in 2026 has prompted statements from circles that describe themselves as secular,” he said, characterizing the circles as hostile toward the nation’s religious beliefs and values.
“It is not surprising,” Ekrem Kızıltaş, a columnist and author, said, commenting on the declaration.
According to Kızıltaş, this year’s debate appears to have been fueled by the fact that Ramadan began close to the anniversary of the Feb. 28 process and by the Education Ministry’s circular encouraging broader coverage of Ramadan-related themes in schools.
Last week, speaking at the Governors’ Meeting Program, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said they would organize various school activities to ensure that children, the guarantee of our future, are aware of the significance of the holy days of Ramadan and benefit from what he described as their atmosphere of spiritual abundance.
“There is no debate on secularism in Türkiye, and freedoms are in no way restricted,” Erdoğan said. “We will never deviate from what we believe is right, without paying heed to the ravings of an aggressive group that cannot tolerate our nation living its faith freely.”
On the other hand, Kızıltaş also pointed out that the anger stemming from the detention of several mayors from the CHP on charges such as bribery and corruption may also have played a role in prompting such statements. The group in question, he added, lacks any connection to objectivity, noting that both the president and the education minister have already delivered the necessary responses.
Regarding the critics of the Ramadan activities at schools, he concluded: “It can also be said that, beyond being alienated from the beliefs and values of a nation that is 99% Muslim, their aggressive tone causes them to undermine their own position the more they speak.”
The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) said its Imrali delegation and co-chairs will hold a news conference on Feb. 27 to mark the anniversary of a call for a “peaceful and democratic society,” with a new message from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan expected to be read.
The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. in Ankara, will include members of the DEM Party’s Imrali delegation along with co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, the party said in a statement.
It was stated that the gathering will assess developments over the past year under what they describe as the “Peace and Democratic Society Process.”
They added that topics outlined by Öcalan during his most recent meeting, referred to as “steps required in the second phase,” are also expected to be addressed.
Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on Imralı Island since 1999, remains a central figure for Kurdish political actors despite Ankara’s designation of the PKK as a terrorist group.
In 2024, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli launched the terror-free Türkiye initiative, and in another parliamentary group meeting of the MHP, he called upon the PKK’s jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, to order the group to lay down arms after more than four decades of violence. Öcalan responded with a call to the PKK in February 2025 to dissolve itself. The PKK has largely complied with the call and held a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq last summer where its members burned weapons.
Türkiye has made progress in the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group after a parliamentary committee agreed upon the guidelines for Parliament in the terror-free Türkiye initiative.
The report finalized by the parliamentary Commission on National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy last week, after months of deliberations since Aug. 5, 2025, outlines a road map for the continuation of the process. It stresses that legal arrangements can move forward only after the disarmament of the terrorist organization is verified and confirmed.
Addressing the parliamentary group meeting of the MHP, Bahçeli said the terror-free Türkiye goal confirmed the might of the Turkish state and nation and charted the road for a new century of Türkiye with “unwavering unity.”
He hailed the fact that Parliament took the highest level of initiative and all political parties except a few acted responsibly on the matter. He said that the committee’s report made up the most important leg of sincere efforts to achieve the goal of a terror-free Türkiye and slammed those criticizing the report.
Burhanettin Duran, head of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, said on Wednesday that Türkiye absolutely opposes Israel’s genocide in Palestine and aggression in the region and would not allow it to spread to the Horn of Africa.
“Any attempt targeting Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and actions to legitimize them are unacceptable. Türkiye stands with Somalia as it did in the past,” he told a panel in Ankara entitled “Turkish-Somalian Relations Amid Global Transformation.”
Türkiye is a close ally of Somalia with which it established diplomatic relations 60 years ago and expanded its clout in the Horn of Africa in the past two decades. Recognition of breakaway Somaliland by Israel has angered Ankara, which opposes Israel’s regional expansionism and ongoing genocide in Gaza.
At the panel organized by the Directorate of Communications, Duran said Turkish-Somalian relations have deepened and earned new dimensions after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched Türkiye’s “Africa opening” in 2005. The initiative aims to reconnect with African countries with a win-win approach, instead of the colonialist attitudes of the West. He reiterated Erdoğan’s 2011 visit to Somalia, which had repercussions across the world.
“We will never allow attempts to divide Somalia. This is Türkiye’s principle. We openly oppose Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. We are determined to continue our support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The Horn of Africa’s fate should be determined by fate and stability, not by imposition,” he said.
Israel became the only country in the world to recognize Somaliland’s independence in December – something the territory has been seeking since declaring its autonomy from Somalia in 1991.
The government in Mogadishu and international organizations like the U.N. still see Somaliland as an integral part of Somalia.
Shortly after Israel’s recognition at the end of December, social media was flooded with photos of men and women displaying the Israeli flag – one of them even using it as a hijab.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on the other hand, denounced it as “the greatest violation of Somalia’s sovereignty” and a “threat to the security and stability of the world and the region.”
The African Union and most Arab countries threw their support behind Somalia and condemned the move.
The U.S., however, defended what it said was Israel’s right to recognize Somaliland, although President Donald Trump said he was unlikely to follow suit, despite pressure from some within his Republican party.
Duran said Türkiye neglected Africa in the past, but under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a transformation began that freed foreign policy from this problematic perspective and made Africa one of its main areas of focus.
“We support the economic development and capacity-building needs of African countries. In addition, we support the security and stability of African nations and encourage bilateral cooperation in the defense industry. We assume a facilitating or mediating role in disputes that arise in the region, based on the trust placed in Türkiye. We also cooperate with regional organizations across the continent and coordinate with African countries,” he said.
Duran noted that, thanks to Erdoğan’s strong and effective leadership, these efforts have increased Türkiye’s prestige on the continent and enabled the establishment of relations with African partners on the basis of equality and mutual understanding. He said Türkiye’s presence in Africa today disturbs many countries with different ambitions.
“These countries continue to make the mistake of viewing the African continent as a playground for great powers. As if it were not enough that they depict a vast continent as much smaller on physical maps, they also circulate a narrative in the communications sphere that ignores all of the continent’s beauty, wealth and potential, focusing instead on crisis and chaos,” he lamented.
“Our approach is very different. Evaluating Africa through one-dimensional readings means missing the continent’s real story. Africa is a continent of ancient civilizations, unique natural beauty and rich cultural diversity. Today, with its young and dynamic population, abundant resources and steps toward regional integration, Africa is becoming one of the new centers of attraction in the global economy. For this reason, we approach our relations with Africa on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. This is the most important factor that distinguishes us from other countries and brings Africa closer to us,” he added.
Speaking at Wednesday’s event in Ankara, Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur reminded that Türkiye was one of the first countries to recognize Somalia’s independence in 1960, and Somalis have always viewed Türkiye as friends standing with them in their struggles.
“Our diplomatic relations did not reflect their potential in the past, and we saw how they transformed in 2011 (with Erdoğan’s visit),” he said.
“Mr. Erdoğan visited Mogadishu at a time when everyone turned their backs on Somalia. This changed the course of history. He traveled somewhere nobody wanted to visit and became a hope for a country where others considered beyond reparation,” he said.
Daud Aweis Jama, minister of information, culture and tourism, said Türkiye and Somalia had a strategic partnership and, beyond that,the two countries had a deep-rooted history. He emphasized cooperation with Türkiye in many fields, from the economy and maritime commerce to energy.
Jama noted that Somalia had Africa’s largest coast, and they worked with Türkiye to transform the coast from a fragile hot spot to a place to generate wealth. He noted that they established significant cooperation for the extraction of land and maritime resources, pointing to joint deepwater survey projects planned for this year.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Wednesday that his office is ready to provide technical support to lawmakers as Türkiye advances its terror-free initiative, a broader effort aimed at ending decades of PKK terrorism.
Speaking to reporters before the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting, Gürlek said the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, which oversees the process, had submitted its recommendations to the Parliament speaker’s office.
“As the Justice Ministry, we have only established a technical team for the lawmaking process,” Gürlek said. “If our Parliament needs it, our team is always ready to work alongside it.”
The initiative aims to end PKK terrorism that began in 1984 and killed more than 40,000 people, sowing discord at home and spreading violence across borders into Iraq and Syria.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU, halted attacks last year and said in May it had decided to dissolve itself in response to a February 2025 call by its imprisoned ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, to end its decades-long attacks.
Parliament passed a parliamentary commission report last week that sets out a road map for legal reforms alongside the PKK’s disbandment.
Gürlek emphasized that any legal framework related to the process would be drafted and approved solely by Parliament.
He also stressed that no general amnesty or personal legal arrangement would be introduced that could create a perception of impunity for PKK members laying down their weapons.
Addressing questions on juvenile crime, the minister said authorities had determined that criminal networks were exploiting minors. He noted that a parliamentary commission is studying the issue and that necessary amendments could be included in the upcoming 12th Judicial Reform Package.
Work on the package is ongoing and is expected to include new social media regulations aimed at preventing the misuse of anonymous and fake accounts and curbing online defamation. Separate efforts led by the Family and Social Services Ministry are focusing on protections for children under 15.
On a separate legal case involving alleged insults against the president, Gürlek said jurisdiction was determined based on the location of the alleged offense and stressed that the matter falls entirely under the authority of the independent judiciary.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the suffering people of Gaza continue to show remarkable resilience as they observe Ramadan under bombardment, describing their determination as a source of inspiration for Muslims across the world.
“Our Gazan brothers and sisters who break their fast in makeshift buildings amid the ruins, yet refuse to bow to Israeli oppression, are setting an example for all Muslims with their faith,” Erdoğan said.
He also criticized Israel for its disregard for international law, saying its attacks on Gaza and the West Bank have escalated despite the cease-fire reached on Oct. 10, which he noted was secured with Türkiye’s efforts.
“Despite the cease-fire achieved on Oct. 10 with our efforts as well, the lawless Israeli government continues to escalate its attacks on Gaza and the West Bank,” he said.
Noting that Israeli attacks have killed 615 Palestinians and wounded nearly 2,000 others since Oct. 11, Erdoğan said serious obstacles continue to hinder the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.
He noted that restrictions and Israel’s arbitrary practices at the Rafah border crossing, Gaza’s “lifeline,” remain in place despite urgent humanitarian needs.
Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s stance on supporting a just and lasting peace, urging the international community to act decisively to stop the violence and protect civilians.
Türkiye will continue to play a constructive and determined role in securing regional stability and advancing efforts toward lasting peace, Presidential Chief Adviser for Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç said Tuesday.
Kılıç made the remarks in a statement on his social media account following his meeting with Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, noting that the discussions touched on regional security, diplomatic initiatives aimed at supporting peace, and ongoing defense cooperation between Ankara and Kyiv.
Emphasizing Türkiye’s long-standing commitment to diplomacy and conflict resolution, Kılıç said the country will continue its efforts to promote stability across the region and support channels that can help pave the way for sustainable peace.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also held a meeting with Umerov in the capital Ankara, the Foreign Ministry said.
NATO member Türkiye, which has striven to maintain relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has become a key mediator amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a deal to end the yearslong war.
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoJoint statement from Türkiye, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and 18 countries
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoBREAKING NEWS I Clear message from President Erdoğan: “We will build a Türkiye without terrorism”
-
Politics3 days agoAK Party says Erdoğan should stay
-
Economy5 hours agoTürkiye’s wealth fund in talks on $10B petrochemicals project
-
Politics24 hours agoTurkish Parliament marks 34th year since Khojaly killings
-
Politics20 hours agoTürkiye vows to uphold constructive role for regional stability
-
Daily Agenda19 hours agoBüyükgümüş had an iftar meal with citizens in the ‘GençNokta’ tent
-
Daily Agenda18 hours agoMinister Göktaş attended the “Brotherhood Table Iftar Program” in Batman