"HAK-İŞ" Confederation Chairman Mahmut Arslan, in his written statement on the 13th anniversary of the Mavi Marmara attack, stated that the occupying Israel has for years occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and has imposed a blockade and embargo on Gaza.
Reminding that the Gaza Freedom Flotilla set out in May 2010 to deliver the aid needed to break the unjust blockade on Gaza to the oppressed, Arslan said, "The invading Israeli soldiers carried out a terrorist attack in international waters against 6 international non-governmental organizations, including the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. The Freedom for Gaza Flotilla, attended by 715 humanitarian aid volunteers from 37 countries of the world and from all faiths, faced the brutal massacre of the terrorist state of Israel. Invading Israel killed 10 of our humanitarian aid volunteers and injured more than 50 people. We commemorate all our Mavi Marmara martyrs, especially HAK-İŞ member Fahri Yaldız, with respect and mercy, and condemn the massacres of the occupying Israel that ignore international law."
Noting that the inhumane blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza still continues, Arslan used the following statements:
"We do not accept the violence and intimidation policies of the Israeli government towards our Palestinian brothers. As HAK-İŞ, we want the occupying Zionist Israel to end its vile attacks and persecution against Palestine. We also want the international community to react more strongly to the tyranny that has turned into these cruel, fascist acts."