Istanbul: The hundreds of thousands who gathered on Istanbul's Galata Bridge on Thursday took a historic stand in solidarity with Palestine, pledging to continue their struggle until Gaza, Jerusalem, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are free, said a Turkish civic leader at the massive event.
According to Anadolu Agency, the demonstration was organized by the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform under the slogan 'We won't cower, we won't keep quiet, we won't forget Palestine.' The event brought together more than 400 civil society groups, with participants gathering on the first morning of the new year to call for an end to the killings in Palestine.
Bilal Erdogan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the significance of the rally. 'Together with hundreds of thousands on Galata Bridge, we are writing this into history: we will not cower, we will not keep quiet, and we will not forget Palestine or allow it to be forgotten,' he declared. Quoting the late Bosnian leader Alija Izetbegovic, he added: 'A forgotten genocide is doomed to be repeated.'
Erdogan offered prayers for those killed and expressed solidarity with Palestinians. 'Mercy upon our martyrs. May the new year bring peace to our nation, to all Muslims, to Palestine, and to humanity,' he said, extending prayers for grieving mothers and leaders, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan also addressed the dire situation in Gaza, describing it as a genocide and a turning point that has exposed the moral collapse of the global order and international institutions. He stressed that the destruction in Gaza is being carried out not only through bombs but also through starvation, deprivation, winter conditions, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid.
The Turkish civic leader sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, invoking divine justice against what he described as a depraved mindset. He emphasized that Israel's actions represent a flagrant disregard for international law, including the Geneva Conventions, and labeled the current form of Zionism as 'Israeli Nazism.'
Erdogan called for accountability, urging Israel to pay war reparations and compensation for war crimes. He highlighted the ongoing violence in the West Bank as part of the same system of impunity and stressed the need for a comprehensive struggle until the occupation ends and the territorial integrity of the Palestinian state is recognized.
He also urged individual action through boycotts, describing it as a moral responsibility and a declaration of refusing complicity. In his closing remarks, Erdogan recited verses from Arif Nihat Asya's poem Bayrak, asserting that the Turkish nation strives to be 'the dove of peace,' but will stand firmly against injustice when necessary.
Despite an Oct. 10 ceasefire deal that halted Israel's two-year war, deadly attacks on Gaza continue. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, since the ceasefire, at least 414 people have been killed and over 1,100 others injured.