Speaking at the “International Gaza Humanitarian Aid Summit” held in Istanbul, the President of Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, stated while announcing the final declaration of the summit:
“Remaining silent in the face of this oppression will not only deepen the existing suffering but will also leave irreversible wounds in the conscience of future generations.”
Organized by the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV), the “International Gaza Humanitarian Aid Summit,” which brought together representatives from more than 200 institutions and organizations across 48 countries, concluded after two days of intensive sessions.
At the conclusion of the summit, which aimed to find lasting and effective solutions to the humanitarian crisis that has persisted in Gaza for over two years, President Arpaguş read aloud the “Final Declaration of the International Gaza Humanitarian Aid Summit.”
The full text of the final declaration is as follows:
Israel’s attacks on Gaza have become one of the most shameful and severe humanitarian tragedies of our time. These assaults have not only deprived thousands of innocent civilians of their right to life but have also blatantly violated the collective conscience of humanity and the fundamental principles of international law.
The systematic campaign of genocide carried out in Gaza has led to profound social traumas that will persist for generations. Residential areas, hospitals, schools, and places of worship have been deliberately targeted, reducing entire cities to rubble. Moreover, Gaza’s historical fabric and cultural heritage have been intentionally destroyed in an attempt to erase the collective memory of its people.
At a time when oppression has reached its peak, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows more dire with each passing day. The people of Gaza, whose basic rights to life are being violated, have been deprived of essential needs such as food, water, electricity, medical assistance, and shelter. The most vulnerable groups—children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—have become the gravest victims of this atrocity.
This humanitarian catastrophe is not merely a regional issue but a global responsibility that concerns the shared conscience of all humankind. Yet, while a clear act of genocide is unfolding in Gaza, the international community remains largely ineffective. During this process, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emphasized the need for the world’s nations to act collectively in the reconstruction and support of Gaza, reaffirming that Türkiye will stand by the people of Gaza under all circumstances.
In this context, the International Humanitarian Aid Summit for Gaza, organized under the leadership of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDF) in Istanbul, represents a concrete and globally significant step toward this shared determination. The summit brought together more than 500 experts and 200 humanitarian organizations from 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. International institutions, academics, and media representatives who refused to remain silent in the face of Gaza’s suffering convened in Istanbul to develop practical solutions to the humanitarian crisis, enhance the effectiveness of aid operations, and mobilize global public opinion.
The summit was convened with the purpose of identifying concrete actions to be undertaken by civil society organizations, establishing strategies for coordinated humanitarian efforts, and developing lasting solutions to the humanitarian crisis affecting key sectors such as education, health, housing, and food. Over the course of two days, the sessions, panels, and workshops featured in-depth analyses by leading academics, representatives of international aid organizations, and field experts who examined the situation in Gaza from multiple perspectives. Participants evaluated the functioning of humanitarian mechanisms in the region, discussed critical issues in areas such as food, health, education, and shelter, and proposed concrete, actionable solutions to the crisis.
Throughout the summit, the discussions went beyond merely identifying problems; participants also formulated practical, sustainable, and locally compatible solutions. These proposals, developed through a spirit of collective reasoning and solidarity, were designed to encompass both short-term emergency response measures and long-term reconstruction strategies.
In conclusion, the following recommendations and action plans are presented as the tangible outcomes of the Istanbul Summit to the attention of the international community and global public. These proposals aim to enhance the efficiency of humanitarian aid operations in Gaza, strengthen coordination and solidarity among civil society organizations, and contribute to the establishment of a just and sustainable humanitarian order.
- To ensure the rapid and secure delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, it has been decided to establish an international coordination center under the leadership of Türkiye, Egypt, and Jordan.
- To protect orphans in Gaza and meet all their essential needs, the Orphan Protection Program must be urgently activated, and this issue should be prioritized in all humanitarian initiatives.
- In order to address the shelter crisis in Gaza, temporary accommodation centers supported by the institutions participating in the Summit should be established, and the necessary infrastructure works for these centers must be initiated without delay.
- Mobile hospitals and emergency response units should be deployed immediately, ensuring the delivery of medical supplies, medicines, and equipment to the people of Gaza.
- For the construction of fully equipped hospitals and health centers, ministries of health, international organizations, and NGOs should take coordinated action to establish a sustainable healthcare infrastructure.
- Maternal and child health as well as psychological support services should be expanded, while post-trauma support centers and specialized units for chronic disease monitoring must be established.
- Temporary education centers and digital learning methods should be urgently implemented until schools are rebuilt, ensuring the continuity of education.
- Inter-university cooperation agreements should be established, and comprehensive scholarship opportunities should be provided for students from Gaza.
- The repair and reconstruction of mosques, masjids, and other places of worship destroyed in the attacks should be urgently initiated, safeguarding the people’s right to maintain their spiritual life.
- The launch of local development-oriented micro-finance and business support programs has been agreed upon, along with vocational training initiatives, to be supported by NGOs through projects aligned with their fields of expertise.
- The visibility of the crisis and humanitarian response in Gaza should be enhanced in international media to ensure that the tragedy remains in global awareness.
- An international commission, composed of representatives from institutions participating in the Summit, shall be established to monitor investigations into war crimes and human rights violations committed in Gaza.
- It has been decided that all decisions adopted at the Istanbul Summit shall be effectively implemented, and that all necessary diplomatic efforts shall be initiated to ensure their enforcement and security.
The Gaza Humanitarian Aid Summit issues an urgent call to action to the international community in this dark chapter of human history. To remain silent in the face of such oppression will not only deepen the suffering of today but will also leave indelible scars on the conscience of future generations. Every step taken today will serve as a legacy for a more just and humane world tomorrow.
This declaration stands as a historic document, embodying the reconstruction of humanity’s shared conscience and moral values. Every member of the international community bears a responsibility to act decisively to end these crimes against humanity and to heal the wounds of those affected. The recovery and normalization of Gaza represent a collective duty and moral obligation of all humankind.
The participants of the Summit reaffirm their firm commitment to the implementation of the solutions outlined above and call upon all international actors to act within this framework of humanitarian responsibility. For the sake of our shared human future, this call must be heeded, and the necessary actions must be taken without delay.
The program was attended by Türkiye’s Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid to Palestine, Mehmet Güllüoğlu; Deputy President of Religious Affairs Dr. Hafiz Osman Şahin; General Manager of Foreign Relations at the Presidency of Religious Affairs Ensari Yentürk; General Manager of the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation İzani Turan; Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Abdullatif Derian; President of the El Khair Association Imam Kassem Rashid Ahmad; Deputy General Managers of TDV Recep Şükrü Balkan and Fatih Kayacan, along with many distinguished guests.
