Physical Address
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Thousands of people gathered at Galata Bridge at the heart of Istanbul on Wednesday for a rally in support of Palestinians facing genocide at the hands of Israel.
Organized by the National Will Platform, which brings together some 400 civic society organizations, the demonstration was led by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA). Authorities have closed major roads heading to the bridge ahead of the rally. Demonstrators took boats to ports near the bridge and others preferred walking. Groups gathered outside Istanbul’s iconic mosques near the bridge, from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque to Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) in the early hours of Wednesday, performing dawn prayers there. Waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, they marched to the venue as they carried banners reading “Stop The Genocide in Gaza” and “A Sun Is Rising” in reference to the motto of the rally. Along with slogans, they chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) as they reached the venue. Some demonstrators sprayed “Free Palestine” graffiti on the venue.
Among the participants of the meeting were Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır and Trade Minister Ömer Bolat. Other prominent names among participants were former Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop, Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR) leader Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu and ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) central executive committee member Mahir Ünal.
Bilal Erdoğan, son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who serves as chairperson of the Ilim Yayma Foundation and a member of TÜGVA’s High Advisory Board, joined TÜGVA Chair Ibrahim Beşinci and Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) head Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu. Ali Yalçın and Mahmut Arslan, leaders of Türkiye’s two major labor unions, lawmakers and mayors were among thousands joining the rally.
At the venue, organizers set up giant screens and loudspeakers against the backdrop of a stage adorned with the slogan “For a Fair Future.”
The first major Istanbul rally against Israeli genocide targeting Palestinians was held on Oct. 28, 2023, with the participation of President Erdoğan and drew more than 1 million people. Since then, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) held regular rallies across the city as well as elsewhere in the country.
Türkiye has been a traditional ally to Palestine but as the Israeli attacks became more brutal, the harsher Ankara has made its criticism in the past year. It has condemned what it calls genocide, halted all trade with Israel and applied to join a genocide case against Israel at the World Court, which Israel rejects. In addition to delivering humanitarian aid, Türkiye has sought to rally international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to restrain Israel.
