A nine-year-old Gazan, Noor Saad, said she and her friends do not feel themselves as foreigners in Turkey and they feel a bond of sisterhood with Turks although they do not speak the same language. “The Turkish nation did not only provide financial assistance to Palestine but they also sacrificed their lives and blood through the Mavi Marmara relief project,” she said.

Another Gazan Salva Masib said: “Mavi Marmara is an injured ship. It was not allowed to reach Gaza. We were looking forward to seeing this ship there. We want peace now, we don’t want war,” Masib said.

Bisan Sagga, 9, offered his thanks to the IHH and the Turkish nation for giving them the chance to get out of Gaza and see another part of the world. “We have got out of a cage. Allah willing, all the Palestinian children will get out of that cage one day,” he said.

Bilal, another kid from Gaza said he drew a painting which depicts Mavi Marmara’s arrival in Gaza. “One day all the ships will come to Gaza freely,” he said.

Ten Gazan children gathered with members from the benevolent families at a restaurant in Miniatürk over the weekend.

Painting exhibition opened

Paintings drawn by Gazan children have begun to be displayed at an exhibition at the Ali Emiri Culture Center in İstanbul’s Fatih district. The exhibition will be open until April 1.