International Free Palestine Congress kicks off in Istanbul

By Berfin Kirac

ISTANBUL (AA) - The International Free Palestine Congress began in Istanbul on Saturday.

The congress, attended by academics, researchers, lawyers, and media representatives from various countries around the world, was organized at the Fatih Neslisah Sultan Cultural Center by the Media Platform Association in collaboration with the Asim's Generation Social Media Platform.

Turgut Ozmutafoglu, the president of the Media Platform Association, told Anadolu that Gaza is a “bleeding wound” for the entire world.

Expressing his hopes that the congress would be beneficial, Ozmutafoglu said: "We also want to announce the final declaration in front of the US Consulate afterward, to make it more official and more internationally recognizable."

He added that after the academic language adjustments of the congress proceedings are completed, the process of compiling them into a book would follow.

After the book is finalized and the necessary academic approvals are obtained, it will be distributed abroad.

Prof. Adem Palabiyik, congress coordinator and faculty member at Bitlis Eren University, said that the aim of the congress was both to address the Palestinian issue on a broader scale and to make the voices of everyone killed there heard around the world.

Palabiyik said that the final declaration of the congress would be announced in front of the US Consulate in Istanbul, adding: "The reason why we chose the front of the US Consulate is that it will be a reaction to the standing ovation Netanyahu, the murderer leader of Israel, received in the US Congress.”

He said that after the congress, they would request texts from all the authors and participants.

He further said that the book will be published in five different languages, then it will be sent to universities in Europe, Central Asia, and the Arab world.

Discussion on the situation in Palestine, Israel's ongoing attacks, and the stance of international media and politicians on the matter are being addressed through panels at the International Free Palestine Congress.

The congress, where academics, artists, and journalists have a voice, continues with sessions titled Free Palestine, Martyrdom and Killer Israel, What Is Palestine to Us? and Understanding and Explaining the Gaza Resistance.

Furthermore, during the day-long congress, the sons of Ismail Haniyeh, the former chief of Hamas' Political Bureau who was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran, Abdussalam and Hemmam Haniyeh, are also expected to participate via online link.