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Dozens of boats sailed along Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait on Saturday, Aug. 23, as part of the “Salute to Gaza” initiative organized by the Open Rafah movement, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli genocide and blockade.
The vessels departed from Karakoy and traveled to the Uskudar coastline near the historic Maiden’s Tower. Upon arrival, participants displayed a large watermelon-shaped banner on the water with the slogans “Open Rafah Border” and “All Eyes on Sumud Flotilla.”
Organizers described the demonstration as one of the largest maritime solidarity actions in the world.
In a related development, prominent Muslim scholars Saturday underscored that there is an urgent obligation to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza, as the second day of an international conference continued on Democracy and Freedom Island in Istanbul.
Saturday's gathering, titled “Islamic and Humanitarian Responsibility: Gaza,” has been organized by the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) and the Foundation for Islamic Scholars in Türkiye. It has brought together more than 150 scholars from over 50 countries to discuss Israel’s war on Gaza and the wider Islamic world’s response.
Meanwhile, Israel’s war crimes and violations of international law, which have gone unpunished, encourage its recklessness, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Saturday, commenting on the confirmation of famine in the Palestinian enclave.
In a statement, the ministry cited a U.N.-backed report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), confirming famine in Gaza as of Aug. 15 with reasonable evidence. The ministry said the report highlighted “the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the genocidal policies implemented by the (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu government against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
The ministry added that ensuring a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, holding those responsible accountable before international courts, and keeping humanitarian aid corridors open without interruption are among the most fundamental obligations of international law and humanity.
“Türkiye will continue to firmly support the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
The IPC initiative confirmed famine in Gaza City and projected its spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.
Israel rejected the report, claiming it relied on “biased sources” and “methodological gaps.” The Israeli military argued the findings were “influenced by Hamas.”
Additionally, prominent Palestinian voices and human rights experts discussed efforts Saturday to mobilize a military intervention to stop Israel’s war on Palestinians, warning that legal and diplomatic avenues have failed.
The interactive online workshop, organized by the Protect Palestine group, explored how to establish a coalition of willing states for such an intervention.
Israel is expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, which it occupied in 1967, and continues bombing and destroying the Gaza Strip, where it has killed more than 62,000 people since October 2023. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israel continues its onslaught in Gaza.
The group argued that an international military force to protect civilians is urgently needed.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, starvation-related deaths have risen to 281 since October 2023, including 114 children.
Since March 2, Israel has kept all Gaza crossings closed, barring humanitarian aid despite large aid convoys stranded at the border. Overall, more than 62,600 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since October 2023, and the area has been rendered uninhabitable.
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