The occupying Israel, which has been committing genocide in Gaza for more than two months, was condemned in the marches organized by civil society organizations throughout Turkey on Human Rights Day, December 10.
The participants in the demonstrations delivered messages of support to Palestine.
The march in Istanbul started at 2:00 pm. The event began from the Beyazıt Square and ended with a gathering at the Hagia Sophia Mosque Square. The participants chanted slogans such as "Get out, killer Israel, Collaborator America, the Palestinian people are not alone" and recited takbirs during the march.
The crowd that reached Hagia Sophia Mosque Square at the end of the march overflowed the area. Thousands of people also followed the demonstration from Divan Yolu Avenue.
"Our struggle is for both Palestine and our own homeland"
The gathering began with Quran recitation. Afterwards, IHH President Av. Bülent Yıldırım took the stage and emphasized the grave atrocities committed by Israel in Palestine. Yıldırım stated, "America and Israel aim to first remove Muslims from Gaza and then divide Turkey. America is an occupying country. It is the Zionists who govern the United States. American people, take action! Clean your government of the Zionists. We are fighting this struggle for both Palestine and our own country."
"Egypt should open the Rafah Border"
Yıldırım stated that between 700 and 1,000 trucks of humanitarian aid should enter Gaza daily, but so far, only around 40 trucks enter the enclave on a daily basis. He said, "Egypt should open the Rafah Border."
Yıldırım also made a call to Azerbaijan, saying, "Why is fuel being sent to Israeli planes through the Ceyhan Pipeline? More than 1 million barrels of fuel have been sent so far. Azerbaijan should correct this mistake."
"Why is there no voice from the Jewish community in Turkey?"
Yıldırım reminded the march participants of the fatwa issued by the Chief Rabbi of the Israeli army who said that Israeli soldiers could rape Palestinian women. Yıldırım said, "We expect a fatwa against this fatwa from the Chief Rabbis in Turkey and other countries. There are Orthodox Jews here (in this protest). They are protesting together with us against Israel. I'm curious about the opinion of the Jewish community in Turkey. Why is there no voice from them? We want them to protest together with us against the occupiers."
"Our people do not want America in Turkey"
Yıldırım reminded that America has 800 military bases in many countries around the world and said, "America is behind the atrocities that are happening in the Middle East and many parts of the world. Our people do not want America in Turkey."
Necmettin Irmak, President of the Rahmet Derneği, and Muhammed Fesih Kaya from Istanbul Platform also gave their speeches at the protest.
The program ended with prayers for the Palestinians.
