Gaza Resistance and the Vision It Offers to Humanity Discussed at IZU

The panel titled “Global Sumud Flotilla: Gaza Resistance and the Vision It Offers to Humanity,” organized by ASSAM and hosted by IZU, addressed the Gaza resistance in its military, humanitarian, and intellectual dimensions. Current developments were evaluated within the framework of Gaza’s reconstruction, the global impact of the resistance, and the vision it offers to humanity.

The panel, organized by the Center for Military Strategic Studies (ASSAM) and hosted by Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, was held at the Abdullah Tivnikli Conference Hall. The program, which examined different dimensions of the Gaza resistance, was attended by IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar, ASSAM Chairman of the Board Melih Tanrıverdi, academics, students, and friends of Palestine.

TANRIVERDİ: “SUMUD IS NOT A MILITARY STRATEGY, BUT A MUSLIM STANCE”
In his opening speech, ASSAM Chairman Melih Tanrıverdi emphasized that Sumud is not a military strategy but a Muslim stance. Stating that ASSAM represents strategic intellect, Tanrıverdi noted that the Gaza issue should be evaluated not only in the context of Palestine and Gaza, but also within the broader question of what kind of world order humanity is building.

Following the opening session, the panel moderated by Ali Coşar began. The panel featured Dr. Hüseyin Durmaz, Organizer of the Global Movement Gaza, and writer and translator Ayçin Kantoğlu as speakers. The discussion sought answers to questions such as: “Is Gaza teaching us anew the concepts of winning and losing?”, “How should we distinguish between what is unique to Gaza and what is universal?”, and “How does Gaza bear and heal psychological wounds?”

DURMAZ: “GAZA HAS STARTED TO LIFT THE VEIL OVER THE WORLD”
Dr. Hüseyin Durmaz stated that Gaza has gradually begun to lift the veil over the world. Referring to the impact of digital platforms, he said, “The biggest enemy of the people of Gaza is social media. Because the issue concerns Zionism, actions and posts do not have the desired impact.” Emphasizing that for the first time in history people from 80 countries have come together for a common cause, Durmaz continued: “The real success belongs to the people of Gaza. Thanks to the stance they have displayed, a collective will has emerged. The Western world has been awakened by the people of Gaza.”

KANTOĞLU: “THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS GIVEN THEM STRENGTH”
Writer Ayçin Kantoğlu, in her speech highlighting the resilience of the people of Gaza, stated that Palestinians possess a strength derived from their righteousness. Expressing that the world is under the influence of organized global evil, Kantoğlu noted that women and children in Gaza are living in the midst of a marketplace of death. Underlining that the images coming from Gaza affect not only those with geographical or religious proximity but all of humanity, Kantoğlu said, “What kind of language is this that affects all humanity? The fact that the people of Gaza affect so many people stems from their righteousness.”