We Are Stronger Together, Side by Side for Palestine Press Release

The press release titled "We are Stronger Together, Side by Side for Palestine" was held at the Red Crescent Istanbul headquarters in cooperation with the Union of Non-Governmental Organizations of the Islamic World and the Turkish Red Crescent. An announcement was made to the press members with the participation of 37 humanitarian aid organizations.

The statement made by the UNIW Secretary General, Mr. Eyüp Akbal, was as follows; The completely out of control attacks on Palestinians under the auspices of western states, especially the USA, are completely unacceptable. We condemn with hatred Israel's attacks, which are carried out with the logic of complete ethnic cleansing, especially in schools, hospitals, bakeries and neighborhoods.

We condemn with hatred these heinous attacks that are taking place in our Palestine, where the blood of martyrs is shed every day, and we wish God's mercy to our martyrs, our condolences to their grieving families, and a speedy recovery to our wounded.

Israel's policies in Palestine are clearly based on international human rights organizations and United Nations reports. Even though it has been registered as an "ethnic discrimination crime", Israel continues to commit this crime with the same audacity in front of the eyes of the whole world.

As we always say, the Palestinian cause is neither a cause of only Palestinians nor Arabs.  This cause is the cause of all of us, this ummah. This case is essentially a humanity problem, an oppressed nation's existence problem, a human rights and freedoms problem. The international community must do its part as soon as possible and take action quickly to end the increasing aggression of Israel and the USA, disregarding international law and the acquis developed in this direction.

Dear members of the press,

Despite the international power centers remaining silent in the face of increasing massacres and brutality, which continue as a shame against humanity in front of the eyes of the free world, we show civil solidarity together with many non-governmental organizations, especially the Red Crescent. Today, we are launching a joint aid campaign for Gaza, under the coordination of the Red Crescent, on the axis of the UNIW Humanitarian Aid Platform, which was established for the purpose of providing assistance.

Our values, which form the cornerstone of our civilization, have clearly demonstrated that going to bed full while one's neighbor is hungry is not humane or Islamic.

Our belief also emphasizes that killing one person unjustly is equivalent to killing all humanity. Our faith also preaches to us that we should not stand by and watch this great tragedy, which has been going on for 75 years in a geography that can be considered right next to us, where millions of people have been displaced from their homes, become refugees, and thousands of people have lost their lives in the process.

The point where the darkness is most intense is the time when the light is closest. Our bread, water, medicine and blankets belong to our brothers.  Hopefully, the fire that burns Palestine and our hearts will subside to some extent with this mercy campaign.

As Humanitarian Aid Platform NGOs, in addition to the domestic campaigns, we have organized international aid campaigns in cooperation with AFAD for Morocco, Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Chad, Cameroon and Lebanon. We tried to deliver our aid to our brothers living there by sea, land, air and railway.

In line with the experience and knowledge we have gained from these campaigns, we want to extend a helping hand to our brothers who are currently facing great difficulties in Gaza.

As an NGO umbrella organization with 354 non-governmental organization members in 67 countries, we want to unite all institutions and organizations in the Islamic world to act together on the axis of unity and to say stop to the oppression imposed by Israel and its collaborators. We invite you to support the aid campaign.

Thank you and best regards.