Israeli attempts to destroy al-Aqsa Mosque were protested in Istanbul following the Friday prayers at Beyazıt Mosque. Groups of people gathered at Beyazıt Square chanting slogans and takbir after the prayers. They staged a mock-up of Masjid al-Aqsa and carried banners and posters reading “Masjid al-Aqsa is Our Honor, A Thousand Greeting to al-Aqsa, Cut Relations with Zionist Gangs, Cooperation with Israel is a Crime.” The protestors carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans.
Some of the protestors carried photographs of Palestinian children throwing stones. Erol Erdoğan, provincial head of Saadet Party, took part in the protest and delivered a speech.
Bülent Yıldırım, president of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, warned that if Israel built the temple named the Third Temple, all Muslims would march to al-Quds. Masjid al-Aqsa is sacred to Muslims, Yıldırım recalled and “We do not oppose your shrines. However, if you attack our shrines, you will see not only Palestinians, Palestinian women, youngsters and children guarding these shrines. We all Muslims will shield them with our bodies.”
Yıldırım noted that the number of Turkish people who likes Israel is not more than 1 percent and warned that Israel is risking losing not only Turkey but also Egypt and Jordan and isolating itself in the region.
Mustafa Karahasanoğlu, editor-in-chief of Vakit newspaper, and politician Erdoğan also delivered speeches during the protest.
Necmettin Irmak led a mass prayer following the speeches.
