Pro-Palestine march brings around 400 groups to Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day in Istanbul

By Gizem Nisa Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - People began gathering early Thursday, on New Year’s Day, at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge in Türkiye for a march in support of Palestine, organized under the umbrella of the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform.

Marking the early morning of the first day of the year, demonstrators convened with the participation of around 400 civil society organizations under the slogan “We won't cower, we won't keep quiet, we won't forget Palestine,” demanding an end to the genocide in Palestine.

Ahead of the event, citizens gathered before the morning prayer at several major mosques across Istanbul, including Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Suleymaniye and Eminonu New Mosque.

Many participants were seen holding Turkish and Palestinian flags as they assembled in mosque courtyards to show solidarity with Palestine.

Despite the cold weather, turnout was high. Extensive security measures were put in place, particularly in Sultanahmet Square, where participants were also offered hot refreshments.

Following the morning prayer, demonstrators set off on foot toward Galata Bridge, joined by several ministers, top officials and figures listed in the official protocol.

The event began at 8.30 am local time (0530 GMT) at Galata Bridge.

A large banner depicting “Hanzala,” the iconic figure created by late Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali and closely associated with the Palestinian cause, was hung on a building behind the main press platform.

The program featured performances of works by internationally known artists and musicians, including Lebanese-Swedish singer Maher Zain, Turkish artist Esat Kabakli and the band Grup Yuruyus.

On Wednesday, a joint platform of civil society groups held a news conference at the headquarters of the Turkish Youth Foundation (TUGVA).

During the briefing, the chairs of Turkish sports clubs Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor, along with Fenerbahce board member Ertan Torunogulları, publicly expressed their support for the march.

Several other sports clubs also issued calls encouraging participation in the march.

Speaking at the news conference, Bilal Erdogan, chair of the Ilim Yayma Foundation’s Board of Trustees and a member of TUGVA’s High Advisory Board, said that “more than 70,000 civilians and at least 20,000 children have been killed in the Gaza genocide since October 2023.”

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 414 people have been killed and more than 1,100 injured since the Oct. 10 ceasefire deal that halted the two-year Israeli war.