During a meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara, Erdogan described the attack as an act of piracy in international waters and a further manifestation of the Israeli government’s “hysterical madness” to cover up the crimes it commits against the Palestinian people.

“I strongly condemn the piracy against the Steadfastness Flotilla, which was intended to expose the barbarity that is starving the children of Gaza and to provide humanitarian aid,” the president said, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye strongly supports all participants in the mission and that measures are being taken to protect the safety of the Turkish activists on board. He also reiterated Ankara’s commitment to efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the region.

For his part, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also condemned the Israeli attack, calling it a “barbaric act that violates international humanitarian law.”

In a speech before the National Committee for Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy, the legislator noted that, according to United Nations rules, no ship may be intercepted in international waters.

Kurtulmuş explained that the Sovereignty Flotilla, as it has also been called, set sail after months of preparation, with hundreds of activists of different nationalities and a solely humanitarian purpose.

Last Wednesday, the Steadfastness Flotilla denounced on social media that it was attacked by at least 10 Israeli ships while sailing in international waters. They issued a distress signal after being intercepted, calling the action a “war crime.”

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