Konya, declared the 2026 Youth Capital by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, witnessed a comprehensive program dedicated to Palestine today. The events, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Konya Metropolitan Municipality and ICYF, started in the morning at the Selçuklu Congress Center.
First program of the day: Gaza Court
The first important topic of Palestine Day was the Gaza Court Sessions. International lawyers, the Gaza Tribunal delegation and Palestinian witnesses came together in the sessions held at the Selçuklu Congress Center. What happened in Gaza; International law, protection of civilians, humanitarian aid, the state of health and education systems, forced displacement and personal testimonies were discussed.
Prof. Dr. Falk: “The wheels of official justice turn too slowly”
Gaza Court President Prof. attended the program. Richard Falk and Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum President Taha Ayhan also attended. Prof. Dr. Falk stated that the International Court of Justice is expected to arrive in the middle or even towards the end of 2027 and said, "In other words, the wheels of official justice turn very slowly for the welfare of the people. The International Gaza Tribunal has produced a historical document that provides an objective picture and comprehensive understanding of the genocide in a way that ordinary courts cannot. This includes taking very important statements from witnesses and survivors." he said.
Pointing out that the United Nations was practically paralyzed due to the West's support for Israeli policies, Falk said, "Universities and other organizations shamefully participated in this process by punishing those who tried to tell the truth about what was happening. The Gaza Court also filled the gap in presenting Israel's behavior in a way that would not lead to any sanctions or accountability." he said.
Pointing out that the genocide has now entered a new phase, Falk emphasized that this phase is defined as giving more emphasis to ethnic cleansing and eliminating as many Palestinians as possible in the occupied Palestinian territories. Falk stated that Palestinians are prevented from taking any role in shaping the future of their homeland.
Stating that the International Gaza Tribunal is doing its best on the issue, Falk said, "A book that will summarize these efforts is currently being prepared. The struggle of the Palestinian people should be supported more than ever, because there is a kind of insistence in Israel on 'finishing the job', as they say, and if we want to maintain our credibility as the voice of conscience, we cannot abandon our vigilance." he said.
ICYF President Ayhan: “Genocide was addressed in all its dimensions and turned into a court decision.”
In his speech, ICYF President Taha Ayhan emphasized that the independent Gaza Court pioneered the call for justice made by billions of people around the world. Pointing out that the court listened to more than 200 witnesses and many experts, Ayhan said:
"A team of experts in the world addressed the genocide in all its dimensions and made it a court decision. In a place where 2 million people were killed, martyred and tortured, you had to prove that they were subjected to genocide, but with the court decision on October 25, 2025, we can now prove genocide by referring to the court decision in applications made all over the world. Justice may be served slower than we expected, genocide perpetrators are still walking around today, enjoying the comfort of a great invasion, but I believe that with these efforts and the efforts of humanity, the perpetrators of genocide will be held accountable before justice, if not today, tomorrow."
While the main findings of the Gaza Tribunal and the next process were evaluated during the sessions, the humanitarian and legal problems faced by the Palestinian people were brought to the agenda of the international public.
Young People Met for Palestine
The Palestine Youth Forum, held in the second part of the day, brought the Palestine issue to the agenda from the youth perspective with participants from different countries.
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Science Dissemination Foundation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Konya Governor İbrahim Akın, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay, ICYF President Taha Ayhan, ministers from many countries and many guests attended the forum.
Speaking to the program, Minister of Youth and Sports Bak stated that the Palestinians were playing at home in Konya, not away, and said:
"The bridge of brotherhood to be built on the green field in Konya re-establishes the right of homeownership, which was taken from Palestine by force. As Turkey, we are ready to do our part in the reconstruction of Palestine's destroyed sports infrastructure and in helping young people return to the fields after the establishment of peace."
Expressing his gratitude to the athletes who stood against Israel's oppression in the sports fields, Minister Bak said, "We cannot remain silent while babies are being killed. I would like to thank Lamine Yamal, who raised the Palestinian flag in the champion Barcelona, the Irish National Team, which challenged their opponents by not shaking their hands in the Israel match, the Scottish Celtic team, which made the stands roar, and our clubs whose hearts beat with Palestine."
Bilal Erdoğan: “Our sensitivity should not decrease until Palestine is free”
Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation, also addressed the youth at the Palestine Youth Forum. Drawing attention to the Israeli brutality in Gaza and the West Bank, Erdoğan said, "75 thousand lives were sacrificed; 28 thousand of them were children. Today, children cannot go to school and are left among the rubble. If we forget this genocide, our blood will dry."
Hoping that the Palestine Day held in Konya will set an example for other cities and Islamic countries, Erdoğan said, "The Palestine Day organized here was truly a program that will set an example for all Muslim countries, all Muslim capitals and cities. I hope the continuation of this program will be an example in other cities and Islamic countries, and it will continue there as well. We have to continue these activities with a certain continuity so that our sensitivity does not decrease and our consciousness does not weaken until Palestine is free and Jerusalem is free." he said.
Stating that they are against attempts to remove Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, Erdoğan emphasized that the Palestinian people should continue to live on their own land:
"We never accept plans to remove Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. We do not allow pleasant-sounding deportation traps such as 'Let's take the young people out, take them to university here, put them in camps.' "The whole world sees that it is a plundering regime."
Rajoub: “We believe that Türkiye will come to Gaza one day”
President of the Palestinian Supreme Council of Youth and Sports, Jibril Rajoub, in his enthusiastic speech, said, "I brought greetings from every inch of Palestine to the people of this beautiful country. I am honored to address you on behalf of the Palestinian people, on behalf of the Palestinian youth. You said 'Our home, your home'. Yes, Konya is truly our homeland. We would like to express that if Palestine is our home, it is also your home. We believe that one day Turkey will come to Gaza, deliver its humanitarian aid and embrace Palestine. Everyone in Türkiye "We are with Palestine. We know this. Our door will always be open to you and we will be waiting for your support."
In the program, Konya Governor İbrahim Akın, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hacı Ali Özel, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat Youth and Sports Department Director Dr. Boubakari Maiga, Maldives Youth Empowerment, Sports and Wellness Minister Abdulla Rafiu, Islamic Solidarity Sports Union General Director Nasser Ayman Majali and AK Party Konya Deputy Selman Özboyacı also made speeches.
Champions' message: "Together for Palestine"
One of the notable parts of Palestine Day was the panel titled "When Legends Speak: Together for Palestine", which brought together important names of the sports world on the same stage.
President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation and Olympic champion Taha Akgül, Deputy President of the Turkish Basketball Federation and former national basketball player Harun Erdenay, and free diving world record holder national athlete Şahika Ercümen attended the program held within the scope of the Palestine Youth Forum as speakers.
At the meeting where important names of the sports world came together for Palestine, it was understood that sports is not just about competition; The message that solidarity, common conscience and international awareness are among the powerful tools came to the fore.
The finale of the day is on the green field: "Our Home is Your Home"
In the finale of the Palestine Day program in Konya, the address of solidarity was the green field.
With the organization of ICYF, Palestine National Football Team and TÜMOSAN Konyaspor met in a special friendly match held at Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium with the slogan "Our Home is Your Home".
Before the match, Palestinian National Team players came onto the field and greeted the stands. Football fans filling the stadium carried Turkish and Palestinian flags and accompanied the anthems and melodies prepared for Palestine. Huge banners were opened in the stands, with the words "They think that if we keep silent, there will be no problem. However, if we keep silent, they will not remain silent. If history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent" and the athletes and journalists who lost their lives in Israeli attacks were displayed.
The game stopped in memory of 1014 athletes
At the 10th minute and 14th second of the friendly match played between Tümosan Konyaspor and the Palestine National Team, players from both teams stopped the game. A moment of silence was held in memory of the 1014 athletes who have been murdered in Palestine since October 7, 2023. Spectators also threw toys onto the field for the children who lost their lives in Palestine. Meanwhile, the names of the children who lost their lives in Gaza were displayed on the stadium screens.
friendship won
The match ended in a 2-2 draw. The goals of the match came from Konyaspor's Mostafa Mohamed and Melih İbrahimoğlu, while 2 goals of the Palestine National Team were scored by Mohammed Sandouqa.
“The match has been postponed until Palestine is free”
The final whistle of the match blew in the 89th minute on behalf of the people whose lives were left incomplete in Palestine. "The match has been postponed until Palestine is free" was written on the scoreboards.
