Trabzon sailors launch Black Sea voyage in support of Palestine and Gaza

In Trabzon, sailors gathered to support Palestine and the Global Sumud Flotilla and set sail into the Black Sea with ships and boats. Organized by the Free Palestine Platform under the slogan 'Support to Sumud from Trabzon, Hope to Gaza' at Vakfıkebir Port, the event began with a recitation of the Quran. Governor Aziz Yıldırım recalled Mehmet Akif Ersoy's poem 'I Cannot Applaud Oppression,' saying, 'We are here today to uphold justice.' Emphasizing the need to take a stand by supporting the Palestinian people, Yıldırım condemned Israel's actions, stating, 'What Israel has done will not go unpunished in this world or the hereafter. There is an afterlife, accountability, and justice.' He highlighted that Gaza has been devastated by Israeli attacks and called for global unity to stop the violence. He also noted the Ottoman Empire's historical justice in the Middle East, contrasting it with current regional conflicts. Vakfıkebir Mayor Fuat Koçal stressed that Gaza's blockade not only confines physical borders but also crushes hopes, futures, and basic human rights. AK Party Trabzon Provincial Chairman Sezgin Mumcu condemned Israel's nearly two-year-long brutal oppression in Palestine, stating that official figures report nearly 70,000 casualties, mostly women, children, and vulnerable groups, under what he called Zionist barbarism. After prayers, participants carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags set out on ships, boats, and launches for a tour on the Black Sea. The event was attended by Deputy Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Yüksel Gülay, district governors, mayors, public officials, and citizens.