Politics
Gaza aid flotilla activists detained by Israel arrive in Türkiye
The first group of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza arrived in Türkiye on Thursday after being unlawfully detained by Israeli forces during an interception in international waters.
Hundreds of activists from countries around the world were placed in detention in Israel after they were intercepted at sea Monday while making the latest in a string of attempts to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Turkish foreign ministry sources said 422 activists, among them 85 Turkish nationals, were flown from southern Israel on three planes chartered by Ankara.
A first group of arrivals was seen inside the VIP terminal at Istanbul airport, as a crowd of supporters carrying Palestinian flags gathered to welcome them, an AFP correspondent said.
Israeli forces “attacked us. Each of us was beaten, women and men… It’s what Palestinians experience all the time,” said Turkish national Bulal Kitay, after he got off the plane.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked widespread condemnation and a diplomatic backlash Wednesday by posting a video showing the detained activists with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.
Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman, Oren Marmorstein, said Thursday that “all foreign activists from the PR flotilla have been deported from Israel.
“Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” he added.
Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, one of the activists shouted, “the Palestinian people are not alone!” as he emerged from the terminal.
“We’ve been tortured, we’ve been beaten, we’ve been arrested in international waters, but we won’t give up. We will return. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
The legal center representing the flotilla members said earlier on Thursday that the majority were “en route for deportation” from Ramon Airport in Israel’s far south.
Adalah said they had been held at Israel’s Ktziot prison, in the Negev Desert near Gaza.
A spokesman for Adalah said activists from Egypt had been transferred to Taba at Egypt’s border with Israel, while those from Jordan had been transferred to Aqaba.
Around 50 vessels under the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Türkiye last week in the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.
The deportations come after footage posted by Ben Gvir, captioned “Welcome to Israel” and showing the minister heckling and waving an Israeli flag among the detained activists, sparked resounding condemnation by governments around the world, from Italy to Spain and Australia to Canada.
He was also criticized at home by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, as well as by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Italy and Spain have called on the European Union to sanction BenGvir, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calling the treatment of the activists “unacceptable”.
In Ireland, a leaked letter revealed Prime Minister Micheal Martin urging the EU chief for “further action” against Israel over their treatment, including a ban on settlement goods and suspension “of parts if not all” of the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel.
The United Kingdom announced it had summoned Israel’s most senior diplomat in Britain following “the inflammatory video.”
Adalah’s legal director Suhad Bishara told AFP on Wednesday that the group’s lawyers had given legal counsel to “many” of the activists, though she added others had faced court hearings without legal assistance.
“We know of at least two participants who were hospitalized… both of them were shot by rubber bullets,” Bishara said, adding that others said they feared they had broken ribs.
Alessandro Mantovani, an Italian journalist detained with the flotilla activists and deported before the others, told reporters in Italy on Thursday that he and others were “taken to Ben Gurion airport in handcuffs and with chains on our feet and put on a flight to Athens.”
“They beat us up. They kicked us and punched us and shouted ‘Welcome to Israel’,” he said of his treatment by Israeli security forces.
Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, under an illegal blockade since 2007.
Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, the territory has suffered severe shortages of food, medicine and other essential supplies due to Israeli restrictions.
Activists say Palestinians endure far worse conditions than flotilla detainees
Algerian activist Muhammed Harkati, who was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla unlawfully detained by Israel in international waters, said the torture they endured could not be compared to the suffering faced by Palestinians.
Harkati, one of the activists who had set sail from Marmaris on May 14 in an effort to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip, spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA) at Istanbul Airport about the events following Israel’s raid on the flotilla.
He stressed that the mission was entirely humanitarian and aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza.
“It was a humanitarian, peaceful mission. However, while we were in international waters, we were attacked and abducted. Afterwards, we were held in prison,” Harkati said.
He said activists from the flotilla were first taken to Ashdod Port in southern Israel after being detained.
“From Ashdod Port, we were taken to prison. There, we were beaten and tortured. The beatings and torture we endured cannot be compared to what our Palestinian brothers are suffering,” he said.
Harkati pointed out that the activists aboard the flotilla had the support of their countries and embassies, unlike Palestinians in Gaza.
“Palestinians do not have such an opportunity. We were able to eat and drink, but they cannot. So we cannot say they are living like us. There is a huge difference between us and them,” he added.
Speaking about the treatment they faced during interrogations in Israel, Harkati said they were tightly restrained and assaulted by soldiers while being transferred between interrogation rooms.
“During the interrogations, they tied us tightly. The soldier who took us from one room to another also beat us,” he said.
Harkati added that Israeli forces placed both plastic and steel handcuffs on the activists throughout their detention.
Mauritanian human rights activist Muhammed Baba, another participant in the flotilla, said Israeli forces attacked them using dogs.
“They unleashed a guard dog on me. It was hitting my chest and face with its muzzle. This attack happened just before we were taken to prison,” Baba said.
The Mauritanian activist said Israeli prison security officers carried out the attack after realizing the detainees were not afraid of them.
“They did this when they saw that we were not afraid of them,” he said.
On May 18, the Israeli military intercepted the flotilla of 50 boats carrying 428 activists from 44 countries while it was sailing toward Gaza in international waters and unlawfully detained the activists.
Among those detained were 78 Turkish participants. The activists were first taken to Ashdod Port before being transferred overnight to Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert.
Türkiye’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) convened an extraordinary meeting on Friday to consider an opposition party appeal on a court ruling that ousted its leader and annulled its congress.
An appeals court on Thursday cited unspecified irregularities in the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2023 congress and reinstated the CHP’s former chair, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in place of current leader Özgür Özel.
Özel said the party would appeal the decision to the YSK and the Court of Cassation.
Early on Friday, CHP representative Mehmet Hadimi Yakupoğlu appealed to the YSK while CHP lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court, hours before Kılıçdaroğlu sacked three party lawyers who filed the appeal.
Following a Central Executive Committee meeting held after the court ruling, Özel said they were not considering establishing a second party against the decision, insisting he was the “true homeowner who stays and decides who lives in the home.”
The ousted party leader has also vowed to personally remain “day and night” in the CHP’s headquarters in Ankara.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the NATO foreign ministers meeting in the Swedish city of Helsingborg on Friday as allies gathered to discuss security priorities and preparations for upcoming alliance engagements.
Fidan arrived in Sweden to participate in the ministerial meeting and joined fellow foreign ministers for the official family photo session held ahead of formal talks.
The meeting brought together top diplomats from NATO member states to exchange views on alliance priorities and regional security developments.
The meeting was expected to focus on preparations for the NATO summit to be hosted by Türkiye in Ankara on July 7-8, as well as alliance unity, trans-Atlantic cooperation, strengthening defense industry production capacity, continued support for Ukraine and converting rising defense spending into military capabilities.
The ministers were also expected to discuss developments related to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, including their implications for Euro-Atlantic security and the broader global security environment.
Fidan also provided information on Türkiye’s contributions to NATO and highlighted the country’s efforts to transform defense spending into military capabilities, emphasizing that trans-Atlantic defense industry cooperation within the alliance should be developed without restrictions.
The meeting comes ahead of the 2026 NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, marking the second time that Türkiye will host a NATO summit following Istanbul in 2004.
According to Turkish officials, Fidan is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the gathering.
The Regional Court of Justice in Ankara ruled to temporarily remove main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel and the party’s current administration from office, reinstating former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his management pending a final judicial decision in the ongoing CHP congress case.
The 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice completed its appellate review of a lower court ruling issued on Oct. 24, 2025, by Ankara’s 42nd Civil Court of First Instance regarding lawsuits seeking the annulment of the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held on Nov. 4-5, 2023.
The chamber accepted the appeals filed in the merged cases and overturned the lower court’s previous decision that there was “no need to issue a ruling” because the case had become moot.
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and determined that the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Elective Congress was legally invalid due to “absolute nullity,” annulling the congress retroactively from the date it was held.
CHP case driven by delegates’ own complaints: Justice minister
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek told reporters that the court ruling regarding the CHP’s “absolute nullity” case remains subject to appeal and stressed that the legal process would continue within the framework of the rule of law.
“Of course, this decision can be appealed. The process will continue to operate within the legal order,” Gürlek said.
Emphasizing the judiciary’s role, Gürlek added, “The duty of the judiciary is to ensure the supremacy of the law.”
He also underlined that the case originated from within the CHP itself, saying, “It must especially be emphasized that this process began with applications filed directly by CHP delegates and was shaped by the statements and testimonies of CHP delegates themselves.”
Lawsuit filer Savaş calls ruling historic turning point
Former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş, who filed the lawsuit, said he did it to protect the CHP’s historical mission, democratic tradition and transparency, arguing that allegations surrounding the congress process should either be clarified or removed entirely in order to preserve the party’s credibility. He also said the ruling could pave the way for broader political reform and “political purification” in Türkiye.
Referring to former CHP Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu, whose leadership and party organs were reinstated pending a final ruling, Savaş said responsibility now rested with Kılıçdaroğlu and the party leadership to rebuild public trust and prepare the CHP for the future with an inclusive political vision capable of addressing Türkiye’s challenges.
The chamber further ruled that all ordinary and extraordinary congresses held within the party after the Nov. 4-5, 2023 congress, along with all decisions taken during those gatherings, were rendered invalid because of the annulment ruling.
As part of the decision, the court ordered a return to the party structure that existed before the 38th Ordinary Congress, ruling that Kılıçdaroğlu and the party organs in office before the congress should continue their duties until the ruling becomes final.
The court also annulled the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress held on Oct. 8, 2023, along with all decisions taken during that congress, citing the same legal grounds.
In its ruling, the chamber ordered the temporary suspension of Özel, members of the Central Executive Board, Party Assembly members and High Disciplinary Board members who assumed office following the contested congress. It also ordered the temporary reinstatement of Kılıçdaroğlu, the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board members who served before the congress until the decision becomes final.
The interim injunction decision will be sent to the Supreme Election Council, Ankara Provincial Election Board, Çankaya 4th District Election Board and the Ankara Governor’s Office for implementation.
The chamber issued its ruling unanimously and said the decision can be appealed before the Court of Cassation within two weeks.
The Central Executive Board (MYK) of the CHP convened an emergency meeting upon the call of party Chair Özgür Özel following the court.
Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on party members to respond calmly after the court’s “absolute nullity” ruling regarding the CHP congress case, saying the party would resolve its internal issues on its own.
“All party members should receive the decision calmly. Our party will solve its problems internally,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in his first statement following the court ruling.
In a statement shared on social media, Kılıçdaroğlu said CHP was not “an arena for personal political ambitions” but rather “the certificate of sovereignty of the nation.”
Referring to the court’s ruling on the contested congress, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “The court’s decision regarding our 38th Ordinary Congress should not become a reason for division, but an opportunity to unite under the shade of our century-old plane tree.”
He urged party members to avoid escalating tensions, saying, “Today is not a day to hurt one another with cries of celebration. It is a day to set aside grievances and rise again with seriousness, calm and mutual embrace.”
Kılıçdaroğlu also said the party would manage the process collectively and in coordination with senior figures across the CHP organization.
“We must manage this process not with regrets, but with seriousness, sincerity rooted in our party culture and common sense,” he said, adding that the party would work in “full harmony and cooperation” with former party leaders, Party Assembly members, lawmakers and provincial and district chairs.
Emphasizing the CHP’s broader political goals, Kılıçdaroğlu said internal disputes would not derail the party’s ambitions.
“No one should worry. We will lead our party out of these debates and continue our march toward power,” he said, calling on all members to act with calm and common sense.
“We are together,” he added.
The statements came after Ankara’s 36th Civil Chamber of the Regional Court of Justice ruled that the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held on Nov. 4-5, 2023, as well as the party’s 21st Extraordinary Congress, were legally invalid due to “absolute nullity.”
The court ordered the temporary removal of current CHP Chair Özgür Özel and the existing party administration, while reinstating Kılıçdaroğlu and the previous party organs pending a final ruling. The lawsuit, filed by former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş and supported by several CHP delegates, alleged irregularities during the congress process.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel said the party has formally appealed the court’s “absolute nullity” ruling regarding the CHP congress case and requested the suspension of interim measures ordering the removal of the current party leadership.
Speaking after the Ankara Regional Court of Justice ruled that the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress and 21st Extraordinary Congress were legally invalid, Özel said the party submitted its first appeal to the Court of Cassation within the required legal timeframe.
“Today, we made our first objection to the Court of Cassation within the legal deadline, including a request for the removal of the interim injunction decision,” Özel said.
He also announced that the CHP would apply to the Supreme Election Council (YSK) on Friday to defend the party mandate granted by the election authority.
“We will apply to the Supreme Election Council tomorrow so that it protects the certificate of mandate it granted to us,” Özel said, calling on both the Court of Cassation and the YSK to act swiftly regarding the party’s appeals against the interim measures.
“We expect the Court of Cassation to urgently review our applications seeking the suspension of the interim injunction, and we expect the YSK to stand by its own area of authority and responsibility,” he added.
Özel also commented on reports regarding communication with former CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was reinstated by the court pending a final ruling.
Asked whether he had spoken with Kılıçdaroğlu, Özel said, “I received many phone calls, and Kılıçdaroğlu was among those who called. I have not returned his call yet. What exactly would we discuss?”
Meanwhile, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş warned against turning legal proceedings into a tool to weaken or divide political parties. He said the process appeared aimed at dragging the CHP into internal disputes and weakening Türkiye’s main opposition force.
“This process must be overcome calmly and in unity,” Yavaş said, warning that divisive rhetoric would only serve those seeking to deepen internal tensions within the opposition.
Rwanda has become one of Türkiye’s key partners in East Africa and plays an important role in Ankara’s broader engagement with the continent, Türkiye’s ambassador to Kigali said Friday, highlighting growing cooperation in trade, defense, education and infrastructure.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Rwanda Aslan Alper Yüksel said bilateral relations have expanded rapidly in recent years and are built on mutual trust and shared interests.
“Rwanda is not only a valuable partner in bilateral relations but also in terms of Türkiye’s outreach to East Africa,” Yüksel said.
He pointed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s visit to Türkiye last year at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a sign of the level reached in relations between the two countries.
Yüksel described Rwanda as one of Africa’s notable examples in governance, public administration, digital transformation, infrastructure development, environmental policy, women’s political participation, security and stability.
He said Rwanda’s performance in investment conditions and anti-corruption rankings also makes it an attractive destination for international partnerships.
“We see Rwanda as an important partner in East Africa because it prioritizes stability, focuses on reforms and is able to work in an integrated way with the international system,” he said.
According to Yüksel, economic cooperation remains a central pillar of the relationship, with Turkish private companies continuing to show interest in infrastructure and construction projects across Rwanda.
Defense industry cooperation has also emerged as one of the dynamic areas of engagement between the two countries, he added.
Yüksel said educational and cultural ties have strengthened as hundreds of Rwandan students pursue education in Türkiye either through Türkiye Scholarships or independently.
The ambassador also noted that some organizatons are providing Turkish-language education to a growing number of students at the University of Rwanda campus.
He added that Turkish Airlines’ daily flights contribute to the country’s international connectivity.
Yüksel said Türkiye’s broader Africa policy remains focused on peace, stability and development and supports Rwanda’s economic transformation.
Reflecting on Rwanda’s post-conflict recovery, he said the country had rebuilt itself after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi population, which claimed nearly 1 million lives.
The Rwandan genocide occurred between April 7 and July 15, 1994, during the Rwandan civil war. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were killed by armed militias. The most widely accepted scholarly estimates are around 500,000 to 662,000 Tutsi deaths.
“Kigali’s emergence as a regional business, technology and innovation hub is no coincidence,” Yüksel said, noting that hosting the Africa CEO Forum for a third time reflects Rwanda’s growing regional role.
He added that Turkish investors could view Rwanda as a secure and favorable gateway to access the East African Community market and its hundreds of millions of consumers.
BREAKING NEWS… The absolute nullity decision was notified to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu! Cancellation application from Özgür Özel and his team to YSK
Turkish election board weighs CHP objection on ‘nullity’ ruling
Bribery operation in Düzce: Akçakoca Mayor Fikret Albayrak was detained
BREAKING NEWS… The absolute nullity decision was notified to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu! Cancellation application from Özgür Özel and his team to YSK
Turkish election board weighs CHP objection on ‘nullity’ ruling
Bribery operation in Düzce: Akçakoca Mayor Fikret Albayrak was detained
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoMinister Gürlek: Our judicial mechanisms are being operated determinedly and uninterruptedly against FETO accounts.
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoThe whole world will meet at the Turkish table
-
Economy2 days agoEnergy security in focus as Türkiye hosts major natural resources summit
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoDigital shield will be activated within 6 months
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoİSTANBUL VAKIFLAR 2. BÖLGE MÜDÜRLÜĞÜNDEN İHALE İLANLARI
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoIt’s time to bond – Breaking News
-
Sports2 days agoFrance, Spain, Argentina set early pace among World Cup favorites
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoMay 19 enthusiasm – Last Minute News