V003-TURQUIA PROTESTA FLOTILLA GAZA

urkish protesters marched and chanted in the streets of Istanbul on Thursday night (April 30), protesting against the seizure of aid ships heading for Gaza by Israel.

Flotilla organisers said Israel had seized part of the second Global Sumud flotilla in international waters near Greece.

The ships make up part of a second Global Sumud flotilla to try in recent months to break an Israeli blockade by carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. They sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12.

Turkish protesters condemned the "painful event" and called the flotilla a symbol of the "globally united conscience."

"We couldn't participate in the Gaza flotilla, so we decided to at least participate in this rally," said 65-year-old protester Osman Demir.

Turkey denounced the interception as a clear violation of international law which jeopardised navigational safety, adding that it would take action to support the flotilla.

Last October Israel's military halted a previous flotilla assembled by the same organisation, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants. That followed other seaborne attempts to reach blockaded Gaza.

Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient, despite a ceasefire reached in October that included guarantees of increased aid.

Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its 2 million residents.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ISTANBUL, TURKY (APRIL 30, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CARRYING BANNERS AND TURKISH AND PALESTINIAN FLAGS, CHANTING AND MARCHING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, HERDEM KIZILCAY, AGED 55, SAYING:

“The elimination of such a peaceful action in this way is a very painful event from the perspective of international law.”

3. DEMIR WITH OTHER WOMEN PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS AND CHANTING

4. VARIOUS OF WOMEN PROTESTERS MARCHING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, MUHUMMED OKCU, SAYING:

“The Sumud flotilla is not just a humanitarian mission; it also symbolises the fact that the existing brutality cannot withstand the globally united conscience.”

6. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING LIT FLARES

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, OSMAN DEMIR, AGED 65, SAYING:

“We are here to support the Sumud flotilla. We are here to protest against the massacres in Gaza. We couldn't participate in the Gaza flotilla, so we decided to at least participate in this rally. That's why we are here. We condemn Israel. We call on all Muslims worldwide to support the Sumud flotilla.”

8. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING, SOME CARRYING LIT FLARES, SOME WAVING FLAGS

9. MEN HOLDING FLAGS AND CHANTING

10. GROUP OF PROTESTERS HOLDING GREEN FLARES/PROTESTER HOLDING TWO FLARES WITH TRADITIONAL PALESTINIAN KEFFIYEH WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD

11. PROTESTERS HOLDING FLARES AND FLAGS