Confederation of Trade Union (Hak-İş) Chairman Mahmut Arslan reacted to the world's silence against the crime against humanity committed by Israel in Palestine.
Noting that Turkey should mobilize a civil initiative against Israel as soon as possible, Arslan called for a humanitarian aid movement similar to Mavi Marmara to be launched in Turkey.
Hak-İş Confederation, one of Turkey's important labor organizations, celebrates its 48th anniversary with the theme "New Goals, New Achievements in the Second Century of our Republic".
Within the scope of Hak-İş's 48th anniversary events, an extended board of directors meeting was held yesterday, and today the "Turkish Working Life in the 100th Anniversary of the Republic" symposium was held.
Hak-İş Chairman Mahmut Arslan held a press conference at Hak-İş Headquarters before the extended board of directors meeting.
Arslan, who made important evaluations on the agenda, called for the launch of a humanitarian aid movement in Turkey similar to the Mavi Marmara carried out by IHH in 2010 against the Zionist Israel, which committed crimes against humanity in Gaza.
“CIVIL SOCIETY NEEDS TO SPEAK OUT”
Arslan emphasized that organizations such as the UN, NATO, the Islamic Conference and the Arab League have not been able to give anything more than a symbolic response to Israel against the crime against humanity committed in Palestine.
"Civil society needs to speak out against this silence of the states," Arslan said.
"Our Palestinian brothers and Gazan brothers are still persistently calling us and asking for financial support to meet their needs. We know that there are some methods to reach this financial support. Therefore, while Turkey is making these protests and our state is working on aid, civil society also needs to start a donation and aid campaign on this issue," Arslan added.
"CIVIL SOCIETY SHOULD GO TO GAZA BY SEA"
"We want to develop an initiative. A humanitarian aid movement similar to the Mavi Marmara carried out by IHH in 2010 needs to be launched in Turkey. This issue should be discussed with wider participation, including Turkish civil society leaders; We want the civil movement and civil resistance to set out a humanitarian aid ship using the sea route in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Gaza," Arslan said.
Pointing out that this work is what the Zionist occupying regime fears most, Arslan continued his speech as follows:
"Unfortunately, Arab states and the Islamic world are silent. Civil society needs to speak out against this silence of the states. It is okay to protest, to react, to shed tears and to lament, but we have been doing this for years. We need to influence Israel somehow. While doing this, we need to carry out a civil initiative of civil society against the occupying Israel on the international platform. We invite everyone in Turkey who is concerned about Palestine to form this unity."