Hundreds of thousands march across Turkiye in solidarity with Palestinians
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Istanbul: Hundreds of thousands of people across multiple Turkish cities marched on Sunday to express solidarity with Palestinians and support an aid flotilla attempting to reach Gaza.
In Istanbul, the largest demonstration saw crowds moving from the iconic Hagia Sophia to the banks of the Golden Horn, where dozens of boats flew Turkish and Palestinian flags. The marchers, gathering after midday prayers in front of the former Byzantine cathedral now functioning as a mosque, called for Muslim unity in support of Palestinians.
Protests were also planned in several European cities to mark the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing Gaza conflict. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas administration, Israeli attacks have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians.
In Ankara, demonstrators held flags and placards condemning the “genocide” in Gaza, while in the western port city of Izmir, crowds showed support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, recently intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to break Gaza’s naval blockade.
On Lake Van in eastern Turkiye, fishing boats, canoes, and divers set out carrying Palestinian flags and banners, cheered on by thousands standing along the lakeside. Recep Karabal of the Palestine Support Platform addressed crowds in Kirikkale, stating: “This oppression, which began in 1948, has continued for two years, now turning into genocide.”
Support for Palestinians is widespread in the Muslim-majority nation, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emerging as a leading critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
With PTI inputs
