520,000 Rally in Istanbul for Gaza

More than 520,000 people gathered in Istanbul in a massive rally to highlight the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and denounce Israel’s actions in the occupied territories.

Despite freezing weather and the New Year’s Day holiday, the turnout underscored Türkiye’s continued public support for Palestine.

The demonstration yesterday marked the third consecutive New Year’s Day rally held since 2024 and reflected widespread opposition to Israel across Turkish society. Since the conflict began in 2023, Türkiye has severed diplomatic ties with Israel, while citizens from across the political spectrum have organized protests nationwide.

The rally was organized by the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform, a coalition of nearly 400 civil society organizations. It was held under the slogan, “We won’t cower, we won’t stay silent, we won’t forget Palestine.” The event also paid tribute to three Turkish police officers killed earlier this week in a Daesh attack in northwestern Türkiye.

İbrahim Beşinci, head of the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), described the gathering as a reflection of a nation standing against oppression. Addressing crowds waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, he said the rally symbolized solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Calling the Galata Bridge a “platform of conscience,” Beşinci said it had become a moral meeting point for people of different backgrounds united by a common cause. He cited figures on the scale of destruction in Gaza, stating that over 210,000 tons of bombs had been dropped in the past 27 months, tens of thousands of civilians killed, entire families erased, and many more injured, detained or displaced.

Beşinci also criticized international institutions, saying global bodies created to uphold peace and justice had failed to stop violations in Gaza. He accused the international community of remaining silent as hospitals, schools and basic infrastructure were destroyed and essential supplies withheld.

Bilal Erdoğan, a senior member of TÜGVA’s advisory board, told the crowd that the gathering sent a clear message to the world. He described the situation in Gaza not as a conventional war but as a systematic campaign against civilians, adding that starvation, deprivation and blockades were being used alongside military force.

Erdoğan criticized what he called double standards in global responses to conflicts, comparing international sanctions imposed elsewhere with the lack of accountability in Gaza. He stressed that Türkiye’s position was not against any religion or people, but against an ideology he said dehumanizes civilians and violates international law.

He concluded by calling for accountability for war crimes and said responsibility also lies with those who fail to act. Gaza’s reconstruction, he added, should be funded by those responsible for its destruction.