The Turkish opposition demands Erdoğan to mobilize the navy to protect the "Resilience Fleet" heading to Gaza

The leader of the Republican People's Party, Özgür Özel, called on the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to mobilize naval forces to protect the "Resilience Fleet" heading to the Gaza Strip, warning that Ankara's current position "does not meet the challenges".

In a speech from the Silivri area in Istanbul, Özel made a "clear call" to the government, saying:
"It is unacceptable for Turkey to remain silent while countries like Italy and Spain show true courage in supporting the Palestinians".

He added that Ankara must be present on the ground through its naval forces, not just rely on political statements, to ensure the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza amid expected risks.

He also called for an extraordinary parliamentary session if necessary, to grant the necessary mandate for the Turkish armed forces to participate in the mission, emphasizing that the Palestinian cause is a "moral and historical responsibility" for Turkey, not just an external issue.

The opposition leader confirmed that Ankara must play a central role in supporting the Palestinians by securing naval protection for the fleet that includes international activists and humanitarian organizations.

These statements come at a time when an international fleet is preparing to sail to Gaza, carrying aid, in a new attempt to break the blockade imposed on the region for years, amid Israeli warnings against "any unauthorized attempts" to reach Gaza.