President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that he condemned in the harshest terms Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Fleet, which carries humanitarian aid to Gaza, in international waters. The Cabinet Meeting held at the Presidential Complex under the chairmanship of Erdoğan lasted 2 hours. Making a statement after the meeting, President Erdoğan briefly said:

I DAMN THE ATTACK: (SUMUD FLEET) Despite the ceasefire reached on October 11 with our efforts, Israel unfortunately continues its legal, immoral and inhumane policies towards Gaza. They display all kinds of barbarism, from blocking humanitarian aid entries to air strikes targeting Gaza civilians. Today, we witnessed once again how Israel is governed by a fascist mentality. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which carries humanitarian aid to Gaza, was attacked by Israeli forces and in international waters. I condemn in the strongest terms this piracy and banditry against the hopeful passengers of the Sumut Fleet, which consists of citizens of 40 different countries. We are taking the necessary initiatives to ensure that our citizens in the fleet return to our country safely. We invite the international community to take action now against Israel’s unlawful and unruly actions.

AFTERSHOCKS OF THE CRISIS CONTINUES: The aftershocks of the crisis, which started with the attacks on Iran on February 28, continue in many areas. We are faced with a multi-layered uncertainty where the balance in fuel prices is still not achieved… Inflation is on the rise in many countries of the world… Breaks in supply chains have not yet been repaired… The blockage in the Strait of Hormuz cannot be overcome. The extent of the destruction caused by this shock wave, which hit the world like a tsunami, cannot be fully estimated. The more serious aspect of the issue is that this atmosphere produces a “cluff economy” at the global level, creating a rent system based mostly on speculation and market manipulation. A handful of wild capitalists who control hot money are growing stronger and adding to their wealth by literally usurping the throat of billions of people from Africa to Asia, from America to Latin America.

PASSWORDS ARE BUILDING EVERY DAY: While the bread on the table of the middle and lower income groups is getting smaller and smaller, their passbooks are swelling every day. It is a fact that every war produces its own economy; So every war has winners and losers. However, with the Iran war, this issue has exceeded the limits of tolerance and reached destructive dimensions in terms of global economic welfare. Behind the unresolved crises and conflicts that cannot be ended in many parts of the world is the irreconcilable attitude of the parties, as well as the great role, influence and sabotage attempts of the tufeylis who benefit from the crisis. Unfortunately, we observe that there are people in our country who are in a hurry to grab logs from the flood. They are trying to gain political and material benefit from this extraordinary process by injecting demoralization, pessimism and hopelessness into society.

THE SMOKE OF THE FIRE IN OUR REGION REACHES US TOO: While our world is globalizing; Problems, crises and opportunities are also gaining a global dimension, and everyone is faced with the reality called the “butterfly effect”. In this new world where distances have lost their meaning, no one has the luxury of remaining indifferent to what is happening in another part of the world. So to speak, today, when a country in the Middle East sneezes, a country in Latin America or Asia can easily catch a cold. The days when every sheep was hanged by its own legs are now over. Like every country integrated with the global economy, we are somehow affected by every positive or negative event outside. Especially, even if there is no flame from the fire in our region, its smoke reaches us and spreads to us.

WE MAINTAINED OUR COOL BLOOD: We maintained our composure against the traps of drawing Türkiye into war from the first day. In addition, we made efforts to reduce tension and restore tranquility with our peaceful policy that prioritizes negotiation, dialogue and diplomacy. By further increasing our dialogue with our Turkish and Kurdish brothers in the region, we contributed to disrupting the games that would deepen instability. Türkiye’s ability to manage regional conflicts and crises was once again demonstrated in this process. Despite the instability that surrounds us, Türkiye has stood out as the island of stability in its region. Although it will take some time to return to the pre-war period, our country will continue on its way much stronger than before. We can already see signs of this. The interest of international investors in our country is increasing day by day.

OPPOSITION PURSUES CRISIS OPPORTUNITY
Instead of making constructive criticisms and adopting a tone that prioritizes Türkiye in the Iran war and its aftermath, which brought our region to the edge of the abyss, the opposition unfortunately chose to turn the process into a tool of exploitation for its political interests and resorted to crisis opportunism. Even in such a period, they could not save themselves from acting with the logic of “let the government wear down and if necessary, let Türkiye lose”. We regret to see that they insist on maintaining this attitude. Instead of strengthening the capacity of the political institution to produce solutions by saying “right is right and wrong is wrong”, unfortunately, they cannot go beyond calling what the government says is “white” “black” and what the government says is “right” as “wrong”. What’s worse is that this is done in an extremely ugly, hurtful and destructive manner that has rarely been seen in our political history.

EVERYONE MUST BE SENSITIVE
However, opposition does not mean distorting, manipulating, or being so despicable as to set the country on fire for one’s political gain. The opposition’s duty is not to provoke, to incite, or to try to benefit from this by acting as an economic hitman. Embracing rhetoric with high levels of threat and provocation, especially in order to conceal the corruption agenda, is an extremely cheap and stale policy. In democracies, the opposition is at least as responsible as the government; It has to act responsibly when it comes to the interests of the country and nation. I would like to remind you that; Our region is going through a ring of fire… Where no one, including the developed countries, can foresee the future… At a time when a new equation is being established in the global system, the opposition has to act at least as sensitively as we do and take a local and national stance.

THERE IS NO OTHER Türkiye
The words spoken on the podiums, the messages given on the screens, and the judgments made on social media should be carefully calculated to whom they serve, and whether they are in the interest of the country or not should be carefully evaluated. There is no other Türkiye. As 86 million of us, we have no homeland other than this heavenly country. No one has the right to harm this, cast a shadow on the environment of stability and trust in Türkiye, or deal a blow to our country’s interests by hiding behind the excuse of “I am in opposition.” No matter which wing of the political spectrum we are on, we all have to act with the principle of “my nation first, my country first”.

AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir introduced the new organizational work for living spaces that have become housing estates in the “Every Site is an Organization” program. AK Party Istanbul deputies, district heads, mayors and organization members attended the program held at the Provincial Directorate. Speaking in the program, Provincial Mayor Özdemir stated that Istanbul is not only a physically growing city and drew attention to the social transformation in city life. Özdemir said, “Today, Istanbul has also become the center of a new urban sociology.”

THE NEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURE
Stating that the neighborhood culture has been replaced by safe but distant living spaces today, Özdemir stated that they were not insensitive to the change and said, “The ‘Every Site is an Organization’ work was born precisely from this need.” Stating that the AK Party has adopted an understanding of politics that establishes direct contact with citizens since its establishment, Özdemir said, “Our work on Every Site One Organization is a new generation organizational reflex that accurately reads the changing city life of Istanbul and aims to transform the social distance caused by modern urbanization into a strong social bond. Today, we are establishing a strong field network in Istanbul, touching every point of the city with our neighborhood patrons, street volunteers and now with our site representatives. On the path we set out by saying ‘Istanbul with Every Neighbourhood, Every Story’; “We are building a new contact model in line with Istanbul’s changing rhythm of life,” he said.

Breaking news: Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that 5 suspects were detained for “taking bribes” and “laundering property values” within the scope of the investigation carried out against Beşiktaş Municipality.

In the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was stated that an investigation was carried out against Beşiktaş Municipality by the Financial Crimes Branch Directorate of the Istanbul Provincial Police Department under the coordination of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In the statement, it was stated that within the scope of the investigation, 5 suspects, including the former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor and Beşiktaş Municipality Council Member, were detained on charges of “taking bribes” and “laundering assets”.

It was stated that during the searches carried out in the residences and office rooms of the suspects, a large number of digital materials and 90 thousand dollars and 5 thousand euros, which were considered to be obtained from crime, were seized.

In the statement, the names of the suspects were listed as follows:

“Former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Cevdet Çalı, Beşiktaş Municipality Personnel Services Manager Bülent Karakaş, Sarbel Organization Office Worker Özlem Demir Karakaş, Former Beşiktaş Municipality CHP Council Member Oylum Işık, Beşiktaş Municipality CHP Council Member İlker Uluer.”

Breaking news: Istanbul Police Intelligence Branch Police Officers; He made important findings about the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH. The clear identities of the people who carry out activities on behalf of the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH, organize so-called classes in their own illegal associations under the so-called leadership, and provide so-called training to children under the age of 18 in line with the ideology of the terrorist organization have been identified.

In addition, some members of the terrorist organization detained in prisons due to their connections with the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH; It was determined that they collected money by making radical statements in order to provide logistical support to the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH.

Members of the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH, whose identities were determined one by one; they carried out secret work to gain base for the terrorist organization; It was also determined that they sold books/magazines in order to cover expenses and to make propaganda for the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH.

RIFLES AND PROHIBITED PUBLICATIONS WERE FOUND

A simultaneous operation was carried out by the Anti-Terrorism Branch Police of the Istanbul Police at addresses determined in three different provinces based in Istanbul. 110 suspects who were found to be carrying out activities on behalf of the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH were caught and detained.

In the detailed searches carried out at the raided addresses; Four rifles, 90 rifle cartridges, many banned publications and documents with organizational content, as well as digital materials with organizational content were seized.

The seized evidence was examined. The moments of the operation were captured on police cameras. The detained suspects were brought to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department for questioning and legal proceedings.

First Lady Erdoğan shared a post on her social media account about the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir, which will give a concert tomorrow on the occasion of May 19, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.

In her post, First Lady Erdoğan stated that the most valuable treasure of a nation is children who grow up with art and said:

The most valuable treasure of a nation is its children who grow up with art.

I follow with great pride and excitement the journey of the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir, which started in 2024 and grows stronger day by day.

Standing out with his musical talent and love of art,… pic.twitter.com/lT8dqkp1h9

— Emine Erdoğan (@EmineErdogan) May 18, 2026

“I follow with great pride and excitement the journey of the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir, which started in 2024 and grows stronger day by day. This valuable community of our specially talented children, who stand out with their musical talent and love of art, is one of the most beautiful reflections of determination, dedication and passion. I wholeheartedly congratulate our precious children who carry our traditional music to the future. I hope this meaningful effort, which rises note by note, will be permanent and bring a bright future to our children.” I hope so.”

First Lady Erdoğan’s post also included a video explaining the establishment, activities and goals of the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir.

In the video, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “Türkiye’s Century will hopefully be the century of our children, too.” statements were included.

The procedures at the police station for 25 suspects who were detained within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Smuggling and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau, under the coordination of the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, on the charges of “qualified embezzlement by chain”, “forgery of documents”, “opposition to the Tax Procedure Law No. 213”, “laundering of assets arising from crime” and “abuse of office” upon notices and complaints, were completed.

Among them are deputy mayors SY and B.Ç. and Tepebaşı Mayor Ahmet Ataç’s private secretary Ö.E. were brought to the courthouse.

Police teams took extensive security measures in front of the courthouse during the transfer of the suspects. Following the prosecutor’s interrogations, 25 suspects were referred to the criminal judgeship of peace on duty.

Among the suspects, Deputy Mayor SY, Chief of Staff Ö.E., Ö.E. during the operation. DG and CT, CAA, EC, FBA, FT, M.Ç, OM, Ö.E, SU, Ş.Y, TG and TMY, who were among the administrators working in the municipality, were arrested.

It was decided to release 10 suspects, including Deputy Mayor B.Ç., under judicial control measures.

It was learned that within the scope of the operation, many invoices related to events and food organizations organized by Tepebaşı Municipality Culture, Art and Social Affairs Directorate were examined.

It was claimed that the suspects invoiced the meals prepared and distributed to the needy with the support of donors in the municipality’s soup kitchen, pretending to have procured them from the companies they had an agreement with, and made payments to the companies, and after collecting the invoice fees, the companies gave them to the municipal administrators in cash.

It was claimed that some municipal officials had family relatives open a “signboard” company using this method and received payment for this from the catering companies. It was claimed that the suspects increased the invoiced fees by increasing the number of participants in events organized by the municipality and gained unfair profits by this method.

It was claimed that the municipality officials wrote offers for direct procurement on behalf of the owners of the restaurants and organization companies operating in the city, without their knowledge. It was learned that the owners of the restaurants and organization companies whose information was consulted stated that the signatures on the offers did not belong to them.

Signature samples were taken from company officials and compared with the signatures on the offer documents at the Forensic Medicine Institute, and it was learned that the signatures thought to belong to the companies in the offer letters were fake.

A DETENTION ORDER WAS MADE FOR 60 SUSPECTS

In the operation carried out on May 14 in Eskişehir and Ankara and Adana, detention orders were given for 60 suspects, 33 of whom were from Tepebaşı Municipality.

During the operation, 23 suspects, including Deputy Mayor SY and Mayor Ahmet Ataç’s private secretary Ö.E, were detained.

It was learned that 35 people’s statements were taken at the police station within the scope of the investigation.

During the continuation of the operation, deputy mayor B.Ç. With the capture of one more suspect, the number of detentions increased to 25. During the search carried out by the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch teams of the Provincial Police Department in the garden of Ö.E’s residence in Keskin District, a room hidden under the ground was detected.

During the search in the room, 9 customs-smuggled “coin (cryptocurrency) mining” devices belonging to Ö.E. were seized.