Hundreds of Thousands Gather at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge in Solidarity with Palestine
On New Year’s Day, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge to express solidarity with Palestine. The demonstration, organized by the National Will Platform, a coalition of 308 NGOs, saw participants marching from mosques across the city, holding Turkish and Palestinian flags while braving the cold. The rally aimed to call for an end to the ongoing aggression and atrocities in Gaza.
The protesters, which included the elderly, women, and children, prayed for an end to Zionist actions in Gaza before assembling on the bridge. A large banner reading “Stop Genocide in Gaza” in both Turkish and English was displayed at the center of the bridge, which was surrounded by strict security measures. Boats in the sea also showed their support for the rally.
Speeches were delivered by various Turkish and foreign NGO members and human rights activists. Bilal Erdogan, the chair of a foundation’s board of trustees, condemned Zionist actions, referring to them as genocide.
He criticized the West for its silence, questioning the status of human rights, children’s rights, and press freedom. Ibrahim Besinci, another NGO leader, painted a grim picture of the situation in Gaza, describing the plight of the children and families affected by the war.
The rally comes amid the ongoing aggression, with the Zionist forces’ actions in Gaza having resulted in over 45,500 deaths, mostly women and children.
Despite international calls for a cease-fire, including a UN Security Council resolution, Zionist actions continue to face widespread condemnation.
