Ibrahim Bilgen was born on the 2nd of March 1949. He joined the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla from Siirt, a city in Southeastern Anatolia. His response to the question of “Are you joining the flotilla as a representative of an organization or a group?” was “I am joining as an individual”.
Ibrahim Bilgen lost his life during the brutal Israeli attack on the humanitarian aid ship in international waters. He was just an individual, a volunteering man, onboard the ship that was going to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. He joined the humanitarian aid flotilla voluntarily.
In the participation form, he replied by writing that he could help with the electrical work and plumbing tasks on the ship during the journey as a response to “your skills and tasks you can help onboard” section. He thought that he would have been helpful in Gaza to those people who do not have electricity and water.
People who could not afford paid services by an electrician would show up at Bilgen’s door right away, his life was dedicated to charity work. He would reject any proposal of payment from such people by saying “just your prayers would suffice”. Wherever some humanitarian aid activity was going on, Ibrahim Bilgen would be there to contribute.
“Please state why you wish to join the flotilla in 200 words” section on the participation form was filled by Ibrahim Bilgen in two words: HUMANITARIAN AID
