Four Turkish MPs Join Sumud Flotilla as Crew Reports Nighttime Boarding Attempt by Israeli Forces

Summary:

Four Turkish members of parliament have joined the Sumud humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, sailing alongside dozens of vessels from many countries. Saadet Party MP Necmettin Çalışkan, speaking live from the fleet, said Israeli forces attempted to board one of the lead vessels overnight but were driven back by high waves. Çalışkan and the other Turkish parliamentarians framed the mission as a cross-party humanitarian action to break the Gaza blockade and call for a ceasefire.

Turkish Parliamentarians Join International Humanitarian Mission

Four Turkish lawmakers — Saadet Party MPs Necmettin Çalışkan (Hatay) and Mehmet Atmaca (Bursa), Future Party (Gelecek) MP Sema Silkin Ün (Denizli), and HÜDA PAR MP Faruk Dinç (Mersin) — have taken part in the Sumud flotilla en route to Gaza.

Their presence underscores the mission’s international and cross-political nature. The MPs say they represent broad public concern in Turkey and have come aboard to bear witness to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Onboard Report: Nighttime Boarding Attempt, Phones Targeted by “Cyber” Messages

Speaking live on Halk TV’s “Yeni Bir Sabah” program, Necmettin Çalışkan described tense scenes overnight.

“We are currently on board. Our fleet numbers more than fifty vessels. This evening there was an attack on one of the lead ships,” Çalışkan told presenter Gözde Şeker. He said Israeli soldiers tried to board the vessel but were repelled by high seas that forced them to abort the attempt.

Çalışkan also reported a wave of suspicious messages to participants’ mobile phones, which he characterized as an effort to disrupt communications: “There are cyber-style messages coming to phones, likely an attempt to block them. These are not things to be afraid of — everyone here came as volunteers, as people determined to end the humanitarian drama in Palestine.”

Multinational Crew, Cross-Faith Solidarity

Çalışkan emphasized the flotilla’s diverse makeup. He said the ship he was on carried citizens from 26 countries and included lawmakers, community leaders and ordinary volunteers from a range of faiths and backgrounds — Muslims, Christians, Jews, atheists — united by a humanitarian purpose.

“We are not representing a single party here,” he said. “We are here as the conscience of humanity. The aim is to publicize and break the blockade, and to push for a ceasefire and peace in Gaza.”

Safety, Naval Presence and International Reactions

Çalışkan acknowledged that some vessels in the flotilla have suffered mechanical problems and some passengers were moved to other vessels for safety. He said older boats were used by the organizers and that naval assets from several countries have been observed near the area.

“We do not see our navy’s ships up close, but I believe our armed forces and the state are monitoring and protecting our citizens from a distance,” he said. He added that international responses have been mixed: some countries offered conditional support but warned that protection would not extend if the flotilla entered Israeli-controlled waters.

Humanitarian Objective — Not a Cargo Operation

The MPs stressed the symbolic and advocacy function of the mission. Çalışkan was explicit that the flotilla’s material cargo cannot meet Gaza’s daily needs: “The total load on these ships is not large enough to feed Gaza for a single day. The real objective is to break the blockade politically and morally — to draw global attention and force governments to act.”

He urged the Turkish public, civil society and mainstream media to rally behind the flotilla’s humanitarian message, warning that politicizing the mission would undermine its goals.

Domestic Political Dimension

Çalışkan criticized what he called the lack of adequate coverage in some Turkish mainstream outlets, arguing that domestic newsrooms had downplayed the flotilla compared with coverage by international agencies. He also pushed back against attempts to reduce the mission to partisan politics, saying the effort transcends ideological divisions and represents a national conscience.

Risk and Resolve

While acknowledging the risks — including potential Israeli intervention and technical failures aboard older vessels — the MPs aboard the Sumud flotilla reiterated their determination to proceed. Çalışkan said crews were prepared for possible further attempts to stop the convoy and that volunteers remained motivated despite the dangers.

“We are on the high seas representing 86 million citizens,” he said. “Everyone — from the right to the left, the devout to the secular — hopes for peace and an end to suffering.”