Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education organized an event in solidarity with children in Gaza under the slogan, "Kites are not shot down; let the sky remain for children."
A ferry departing from Kabataş Pier greeted students studying at schools along the Istanbul Strait. Students from Kabataş Boys’ High School, Beşiktaş High School and Ziya Kalkavan Maritime Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School were among the groups greeted during the event.
Kites bearing the colors of the Turkish and Palestinian flags were then flown from the ferry. The event aimed to send a message of support to children in Gaza.
"Kites are symbols of freedom"
Istanbul Provincial Director of National Education Murat Mücahit Yentür said the event was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education and that they wanted to convey the message, "Kites are not shot down; let the sky remain for children."
Yentür said kites were symbols of freedom and that the situation faced by children in Gaza had created a "dark stain" in human history. Saying that the children of Gaza were humanity’s bleeding wound, Yentür stated that Türkiye embraced Palestinian and Gazan children.
Yentür said they were sending the children’s love and prayers from the Bosphorus to Palestine and Gaza, expressing hope that the suffering in Gaza would end and that a new world would be built with the smiles of children.
Claims about the kites
Israeli media recently claimed that kites flown from the Gaza Strip had fallen in settlements neighboring Israel. Following these claims, Israeli media said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz held a security meeting and threatened to intensify attacks and forcibly displace Palestinians if the kite flights continued.
Hamas said that children had flown the kites and accused Israel of using the situation as an "excuse" to launch an attack on Gaza.
