Kemal Öztürk
Just like Noah (peace be upon him), who once saved us from a great flood,
A group of conscientious souls across the world have built ships —
And named them the Sumud Fleet (sumud: steadfastness, unwavering resolve).
One by one, they set sail into the Mediterranean.
On these ships are people of every race, every colour, every language, every faith, every sect, and every culture.
Just like those aboard Noah’s Ark, this time too, people from all walks of life were chosen to board.
They are the most courageous, the most conscientious, the most selfless people on earth.
Monuments of conscience — souls who rise above politics, religion, sect, race, language, wealth, and property —
They boarded the ships, and filled the sails not with wind,
But with the breath of their hearts.
They lowered their vessels into the waters of the Mediterranean,
The same waters where hundreds of refugees were buried while fleeing war, exile, and torture.
Now passes a ship — its flag is Palestine,
Its will is forged of steel,
Its eyes are tearful, faithful, determined, and unshakably brave.
The rebellion they launched against oppression gleams on their chests like a medal.
Rise up, O peoples of the Mediterranean!
Salute this fleet of the free and the faithful.
As a storm of strife — a Zionist storm — lashes the earth,
As Gaza is razed to the ground, together with all the moral values of humanity,
Noah’s ships have once again set sail.
From South Africa came the Black-skinned,
From the Maghreb, the brown-skinned,
From Europe, the white-skinned,
From Asia, those with almond-shaped eyes —
And from every language and land,
They raised their flags upon the masts of these ships.
They did not set sail to save Gaza —
They set sail to save us.
Because Gaza is the freest land on earth.
Because the Palestinians are among the rare peoples who cannot be enslaved.
Because the people of Gaza are the bravest — the ones who defy Zionism with the loudest voice.
Because Palestine is not just a land — it is an unbreakable ideal.
Because in Palestine, there is true will, true morality, true conscience, and true resistance.
They will not only save that place —
They will save the rest of the world.
Because minds have been shackled.
Because wills have been imprisoned.
Because Zionism has taken nations hostage.
Because corrupt governments have become its puppets.
Because humanity has grown so blind, it can no longer cry out —
Not even at the death of a child.
Because conscience, compassion, humanity, morality, and love
Have fallen into the vertical cliff of death —
Dangling by threads over an abyss.
That is why these free and honourable souls aboard Noah’s Ark have set out to sea —
Not to save Gaza,
But to save humanity,
Whose conscience and morality are about to breathe their last.
And from the waters of the Mediterranean,
They will cry out to the world:
No — humanity will not drown in the flood of Zionism.
No — conscience is not dead; it blazes like fire within our hearts.
No — you will not starve our children to death; our women will nourish them with their own bodies.
No — every nation, every land, every faith, every sect has honourable people.
They have not surrendered to evil — they are here.
No — brotherhood is not dead; look how we embrace one another, beyond all borders of race, religion, or nation.
No — your tanks, your planes, your missiles are not mightier than our ships, whose sails are filled with the breath of freedom.
No — your money, your gold, your jewels are not more precious than the pearls that fall from the eyes of those who weep for a child they’ve never known.
We are coming.
We will stir a tidal wave of conscience in the Mediterranean — one you cannot hold back.
Our free breaths will blow winds that will shatter your siege.
We will raise the free Palestinian flags rising from these waters — not only upon the soil of Gaza, but in the hearts of people across the world.
And one day, everywhere will be Palestine.
And every courageous soul will be Palestinian.
These brave warriors aboard Noah’s Ark will lift our wounded humanity from its knees.
They will show us — yes:
It is possible to build a new order against a decaying, corrupt world system.
They will show the world that the Mediterranean is not a sea of war —
But the cradle of an ancient civilisation —
And a wellspring of hope for humankind.
Rise up!
Noah’s ships of conscience are passing through the Mediterranean.
Salute them.
