A meaningful event titled “Being a Child in Gaza” was held at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), Farabi Campus, Sezai Karakoç Cultural Center. One of the most painful scenes in human history, the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, was discussed in the event, and the suffering children had to endure in the Israeli genocide was once again brought to light.
Member of Parliament from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Eylem Ertuğrul, Chief Prosecutor of the Republic, Gökhan Kapağan, the Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, senate members of BEUN, Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Kütahya University of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. İbrahim Uygun, Operation Room Nurse at Gaza Ahli Arab Hospital, İman Uygun, and Surgeon Taner Kamacı at Memorial Dicle Hospital, provincial and district protocol, academic and administrative staff, students and citizens attended the event which was held at Sezai Karakoç Cultural Center.
The event started with a screening of the short film “Being a child in Gaza” taken from TRT archives, following a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. After the movie, Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer gave the opening speech. Prof. Dr. Özölçer emphasized that the fear, death, and hunger children witnessed are the biggest signs of the tragedy in Gaza. Saying “Small hands holding rubble instead of toys, babies sleeping to sirens instead of the lullabies… It is a miracle to stay alive in Gaza,” Prof. Dr. Özölçer condemned Israel for the crime against humanity in Palestine.
Focusing on the massacre, Özölçer stated: “Nearly twenty thousand children lost their lives before the eyes of the world. Not only the lives of children but the dignity of humanity have been lost. In a time when children should grow up with love and safety, we are mourning the death of innocent children and trying to get their cries heard. The recent attack on the “Sumud Flotilla” on its way to Gaza to bring humanitarian aid has marked another disgraceful chapter in human history. Being silent is a betrayal of humanity, faith, and ethics. We will be there with the oppressed and raise our voices against the oppression. In this spirit, I would like to thank all who contributed to this meaningful event, our speakers, and participants.”
Member of Parliament from CHP, Eylem Ertuğrul, emphasized that despite the reaction from all over the world, the oppression still continues and added, “We need to support each other. 18 thousand children lost their lives in the last two years, and many more are still in danger. Such organizations remind us to stand with the oppressed. I would like to extend my thanks especially to the Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, valuable speakers, dear students, and participants”.
Kütahya University of Health Sciences Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Uygun, stated that the war has been ongoing in Gaza for eighty years, and he is one of the seven Turkish doctors who witnessed the war in the last two years. Prof. Dr. Uygun noted that “Gaza is a small place, but it teaches lessons to the world. The aim of Israel is to target children; however, the resistance is strong thanks to the women. The doctors go to Gaza to help Gaza, but come back from Gaza with a sense of gratification as they learn a lot there. I would like to thank the esteemed Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, those who contributed to this event, participants, and valuable guests.”
Operation room nurse at Gaza Ahli Arab Hospital, Iman Uygun, shared her experience with injured children. “We couldn’t identify the bodies, and there were children who lost their mothers before they were born. Some of them were the only survivors in their families. They were deprived of their right to education. They couldn’t enjoy the Eids. We have been experiencing genocide in Gaza for the last two years. The most difficult cases were of the burn victims.” Emphasizing the suffering of the people in Gaza, Uygun stated, “I would like to thank esteemed Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, who organized such a program to talk about the genocide in Gaza and Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University family and Turkish people who were always there for the people of Gaza.”
Surgeon Taner Kamacı from Memorial Dicle Hospital made a presentation to emphasize the human tragedy in Gaza. Kamacı shared striking photos from Gaza and stated:
“Being a child in Gaza means innocence, staying alive, malnutrition, and facing the unknown. It is knowing how to be happy with a small candy. It is significant how the whole world reacts to the tragedy in Gaza. I am glad and proud to see such an event organized at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University. I hereby thank all those who have contributed to this event and Rector Prof. Dr. Özölçer for his kind hospitality.
The event ended with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and a commemorative photo.
While creating an awareness not to stay silent against the oppression, this special event, organized by BEUN, reminded us of the mission to make the cries of children heard in the world once again.
