Öz Sağlık İşçileri Sendikası
Mr. Mahmut Arslan, President of the HAK-İŞ Trade Union Confederation, returned from journey of honour on 21 May 2026. Mr. Arslan made a statement at the Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul by emphasizing that the crimes committed by Israeli murderous herds would no longer go unpunished.
Mr. Mahmut Arslan, President of the HAK-İŞ Trade Union Confederation and Mrs. Fatma Zengin, Deputy General Secretary of the HAK-İŞ Confederation together with other human rights activists who have taken active roles in the Global Sumud flotilla, returned from journey of honour and (from) the their solidarity mission.
Mr. Arslan, Mrs. Zengin, and other activists of the global Sumud flotilla were brought to Istanbul on May 21, 2026 via Turkish Airlines flights as a result of Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts. Mr. Arslan made a statement in front of the the Istanbul Atatürk Airport VIP Lounge Terminal by declaring that those murderers would not get away with what they have done.
Mr. Arslan said, who stated that they had set out to witness firsthand the oppression suffered by the Gaza people and to show solidarity, that they were subjected to inhumane treatment of the zionist Israeli forces during their detention. He told that those murderous hordes did everything that was inhumane. Zionist Israeli units subjected Sumud activists to every form of torture, oppression, and cruelty. But Sumud activists came back even stronger. What these murderous hordes did has only made the Sumud activists more determined. He added that from now on, they would continue the struggle with even greater intensity.
Mr. Arslan made assessments about zionist Israel’s aggressive stance, which has systematically been disregarding international law and violating the fundamental human rights at his press conference at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport VIP Lounge Terminal by attracting attention to barbar Israeli’s humiliating actions to the Sumud activists occurring during the detention process.
Mr. Arslan noted that approximately 500 activists from 70 countries have joined the global Sumud mission to date by underlining that Sumud flotilla has become the collective voice of the global conscience. By emphasizing that the value and effectiveness of the Sumud mission have once again been demonstrated during this process, Mr. Arslan remarked that zionist Israel’s greatest fear was international solidarity.
MR. ARSLAN: SUMUD MEANS HOLDING THE ISRAELI SLAUGHTERERS TO ACCOUNTABLE
Mr. Arslan stated that, although the blockade on Gaza has not been completely lifted, following the Sumud 1 mission, humanitarian aid has been keeping on and significant contributions have been made toward establishing a ceasefire as a result of the Sumud flotilla huge pressure on the Zionist Israeli government. He added those words into his statement: “In this sense, the Sumud movement means future and holding murderous hordes accountable. Sumud also means such a humanity which stands shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian people.”
By expressing gratitude to all activists leading the Sumud flotilla structure, Mr. Arslan stated that they thanked everyone participating in the struggle on behalf of the Palestine Support Platform by declaring that “We know well that we have a strong and effective global humanitarian aid organisation. People of conscience from all corners of the world are standing up for the Palestinian cause.”
A GREAT WELCOME CEREMONY FOR THE HONOURABLE RESISTANCE BY HAK-İŞ COMMUNITY
By organising a great welcome ceremony for the honourable resistance in Ankara in 22 May 2026 afternoon, HAK-İŞ community greeted Mr. Mahmut Arslan and Mrs. Fatma Zengin who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla and abducted by Zionist Israeli forces in international water then held captive for days. HAK-İŞ Confederation President Mr. Mahmut Arslan and its Deputy General Secretary Fatma Zengin, who returned from their honorable journey to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, were welcomed with great enthusiasm and pride by the HAK-İŞ community.
Following their return to Türkiye lately 21 May 2026, the HAK-İŞ members gathered in front of the HAK-İŞ Confederation head quarters on May 22, 2026. Members of the HAK-İŞ organization, who came Ankara from all parts of Türkiye’s territory, welcomed Mr. Arslan and Mrs. Zengin with great enthusiasm, pride, and a strong spirit of solidarity.
Mr. Devlet Sert, Mr. Mehmet Ali Kayabaşı and Mr. Halil Özdemir who are HAK-İŞ Confederation Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Eda Akbulut that the HAK-İŞ Confederation General Secretary, family members of Mr. Mahmut Arslan, presidents and executive board members of the HAK-İŞ sectorial affiliates (member unions) including Mr. İsmail Öztürk, Mr. Emre Kocaman, and Mr. Fehmi Azboy, our union Executive Board Members and Vice-Presidents, plus the branch and province chairpersons, the head office staff as well as union members/workers, and the press and media staff were present in front of HAK-İŞ Confederation head office to welcome Mr. Arslan and Mrs. Zengin.
HAK-İŞ members chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine from the River to the Sea,” “Down with Israeli Tyranny,” “Mahmut Arslan is our honour,” “The People of Gaza are not alone,” “Killer Israel, Get Out of Palestine,” “Greetings to Gaza, Continue the Resistance,” and “Zionist Israel will be held accountable”.
MR. ARSLAN: GAZA AND PALESTINE ARE OUR RED LINE
Mr. Arslan stated that the oppression suffered by the Palestinian people was a common issue for all humanity, and that what is happening in Gaza cannot be ignored. By declaring that “If Gaza falls, Istanbul falls. The main target of those Zionist murderers is Türkiye. Therefore, Gaza must not fall, and Palestine must be free, Mr. Arslan noted that Turkish activists are being intenionally and specifically targeted by Zionist forces, and that Türkiye’s strong support for Palestine is disturbing Zionist Israel in deed.
By emphasizing that SUMUD’s mission is a purely civilian solidarity and humanitarian movement and noting that the activists properly acted without responding to any provocations of Israeli forces, while upholding their dignity and principles, Mr. Arslan stated that Sumud activists faced all kinds of inhumane treatment during the detention process and that every stage – from the intervention on the ships to the deportation time — was carried out in a planned manner. Mr. Arslan declared that throughout the intervention and detention processes, Sumud activists endured torture, insults, and humiliation and Zionist Israeli forces subjected Sumud activists to every form of mistreatment that should never be inflicted on any human beings.
By expressing that they would continue to strengthen solidarity for the freedom of the Palestinian people, the lifting of the blockade in Gaza, and the struggle for an independent Palestine state, Mr. Arslan added that in the coming period, new SUMUD missions would be carried out with more ships and broader international participation, and that HAK-İŞ would continue to be a pro-active part of this struggle.
MR. SERT THANKED HAK-İŞ MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
Mr. Sert strongly condemned the illegal intervention of Zionist Israeli forces which carried out against the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, as well as the aggressive treatment of those including Mr. Mahmut Arslan and Mrs. Fatma Zenging on board the said flotilla, which had set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in his welcome speech. Mr. Sert expressed that the Zionist Israeli regime’s years of oppression and siege against the Palestinian people have now reached a point where it targets civilian initiatives carrying humanitarian aid in international waters. By underlining the fact that the murderous state of Israel, which has inflicted the greatest brutality on the Palestinian and Gazan people, recently attacked the global Sumud flotilla and detained numerous humanitarian aid volunteers in international waters, Mr. Sert noted that illegal detention of Mr. Mahmut Arslan dedicating his life to the cause of Palestine and Jerusalem, and Mrs. Fatma Zengin being known for her mujahid stance, was absolutely was unacceptable.
By stating that the HAK-İŞ community demonstrated strong solidarity throughout the process, Mr. Sert conveyed his best wishes to Mr. Arslan and Mrs. Zengin on behalf of the entire HAK-İŞ organization. Mr. Sert underlined that HAK-İŞ community would continue the struggle with determination till Palestine is free, and thanked all HAK-İŞ members for their support and solidarity throughout the process.
***Mr. Mahmut Arslan, President of the HAK-İŞ Confederation, Mrs. Fatma Zengin, Deputy General Secretary of the HAK-İŞ Confederation together with other human rights activists from the Global Sumud flotilla were subjected to an unlawful intervention by zionist Israeli forces in international waters on May 18–19, 2026, and they were forcibly detained.
The flotilla said on last Tuesday that all 50 vessels in its convoy were seized by Israel following attacks in international waters. The flotilla, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, departed last Thursday from Marmaris, Türkiye in its latest attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007, which has left much of the population on the brink of starvation.
Those activists, who were taken to the Port of Ashdod by Israeli warships then transferred to Ketziot Prison and held hostage unlawfully for days till intervention of the Turkish Republic diplomatic mission units. Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Hakan Fidan said earlier Thursday that a flight was specially arranged to bring back Turkish citizens and participants from third countries involved in the aid flotilla back to Türkiye. In this regard, 3 Turkish Airlines planes transporting the activists who were detained aboard the flotilla landed at Istanbul Airport on 21 May 2026. The activists were welcomed at the Istanbul Atatürk airport’s VIP Hall by their relatives and numerous officials. Activists who had suffered injuries were taken to ambulances waiting at the airport. Following the reception ceremony, the activists are expected to be taken to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute for exams as part of an investigation launched by Istanbul prosecutors.
