Türkiye strongly condemned Israel on Monday for intercepting the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid ship "Madleen" in international waters, calling it "a clear violation of international law."
In a written statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the vessel, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and included Turkish nationals on board, was stopped by Israeli forces while sailing in international waters.
"The intervention of the Israeli forces against the ship "Madleen," which set sail to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, including our citizens on board, while it was in international waters, is a clear violation of international law," it said.
"This heinous act by the Netanyahu government, which threatens the freedom of navigation and maritime security, once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terrorist state," the ministry added.
The ministry accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon in Gaza and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid, calling it part of what it described as ongoing genocidal policies.
"The rightful reaction of the international community against the genocidal policies of Israel, which uses hunger as a weapon in Gaza and prevents the delivery of humanitarian aid, will continue," the Foreign Ministry said.
It also added that "Israel's aggressive and unlawful actions will not silence the voices that stand up for human dignity and universal values."
Reiterating Türkiye's condemnation of the attack, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on X that the Israeli government "has shown once again that it cannot tolerate even basic humanitarian aid reaching Gaza."
With its ongoing assaults on Gaza, including civilians, women, and children, the Israeli government has become a "mixer that threatens regional peace and puts global security at risk," Altun stated.
"Any attitude that ignores this reality, remains silent or unresponsive means being complicit in this crime," he noted, reiterating Türkiye's call for an end to the brutality and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the establishment of a just peace in the region.
"We call on the international community and the entire humanity to listen to this cry and take concrete steps," Altun added.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also condemned the attack on X, calling it "a terrorist operation," and stating that the attack in international waters is not only an attack on an "international humanitarian mission, but also on the human dignity."
"We declare once again that we stand by Gaza, Madleen, justice, peace and human dignity," Kurtulmuş added, calling on the international community to raise voices against "this clear injustice, to defend human values and to stand by Madleen."
The Israeli government's ongoing assaults on Gaza, including civilians, women, and children, threaten regional peace and global security.
Earlier, Israeli soldiers kidnapped 12 people on board the Madleen, including 11 activists and one journalist, said the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO, which organized the mission.
Among them are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg; French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan; Yasemin Acar from Germany; Baptiste Andre, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi, and Reva Viard from France; Thiago Avila from Brazil; Suayb Ordu from Türkiye; Sergio Toribio from Spain; Marco van Rennes from the Netherlands;
and Omar Faiad, a journalist with Al Jazeera Mubasher, also from France.
Tensions between Türkiye and Israel have also escalated in recent months over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Ankara has repeatedly condemned Israel’s military actions and blockades, which it says have deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The statements come as international pressure grows on Israel to allow more humanitarian access to Gaza, where aid groups warn of widespread famine and civilian suffering.
Türkiye has called on the international community to continue responding to what it sees as violations of international norms, reiterating that Israel’s actions will not deter global outrage over its conduct in Gaza.
