• Over 80 European parliamentarians condemn Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
• Activists were detained while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza on October 1.
• Lawmakers demand the immediate release of all volunteers and access to humanitarian care.
• Reports indicate detainees are subjected to poor conditions and deny legal access.
• Calls for independent investigations into potential violations of international law.

More than 80 parliamentarians from Turkey and across Europe have condemned Israel's actions during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a joint statement, they described Israel's actions as a "blatant breach of international law" and urged the immediate release of all volunteers still detained. The flotilla, consisting of over 450 activists, was stopped by the Israeli Navy on October 1, indicating a serious violation of humanitarian efforts according to Middle East Eye, TRT Global, and Anadolu Agency.

The parliamentarians highlighted reports from released detainees who reported experiencing a lack of essential medicines, inadequate food and water, and unsanitary conditions. Many detainees have also faced humiliation and denial of legal counsel. This treatment raises concerns about breaches of international humanitarian law, they warned, stressing the need for medical care, legal support, and independent monitoring by organizations such as the UN and the ICRC. They called for the "immediate, unconditional release" of these individuals according to TRT Global and Anadolu Agency.

Support has also poured in from international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which has echoed calls for an independent investigation into the interception and treatment of the flotilla activists. A PACE statement expressed that "the Global Sumud Flotilla symbolized the moral courage of ordinary citizens acting where many governments have failed,” emphasizing that detaining these activists is tantamount to criminalizing compassion, according to Middle East Eye, TRT Global, and Anadolu Agency.

In a related remark, Turkish lawmaker Sena Nur Celik Kanat stressed that this declaration not only highlights the call for the release of detained volunteers but also brings attention to broader issues of alleged war crimes in Gaza. She emphasized the need for accountability regarding the treatment of detained activists and international humanitarian law violations, underlining the necessity of oversight for such incidents according to Anadolu Agency.