Tens of Thousands Rally in Istanbul in Support of Gaza

On the first day of the New Year, tens of thousands of residents of Istanbul, Turkey, took part in a large-scale rally to express their solidarity with the war-torn and besieged people of Gaza. The massive gathering began early Wednesday morning at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge, where around 400 civil society organizations and institutions helped organize the event. Participants chanted slogans such as “We will not remain silent” and “We will not forget Palestine,” calling for global attention to the situation of the people in Gaza. According to Turkish media reports, citizens gathered for the protest before dawn and despite the severe cold, assembling in historic mosques including Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed, Fatih, Süleymaniye, and Eminönü. They then marched together towards Galata Bridge. Throughout the rally, extensive security measures were enforced by Turkish security forces in the surrounding areas. Protesters carried placards with messages like “Justice for Palestine, Conscience for the World” and voiced support for Palestinian resistance while condemning the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.