Hundreds of Thousands Gathered on Galata Bridge for Palestine

Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın participated in a march organized by the National Will Platform under the slogans “Yesterday Hagia Sophia, Today Umayyad, Tomorrow Al-Aqsa” and “A Sun is Rising” on Istanbul's Galata Bridge. Reiterating calls for solidarity with Palestine, Yalçın condemned the genocide. 

Addressing the crowd of hundreds of thousands, Yalçın opened his speech by reciting Nurgül Kaynar Yüce's poem, "I Am a Palestinian Child." He emphasized that over 46,000 innocent lives, including 25,000 children, have been lost to a horrific genocide in Gaza. Yalçın stated, "The Zionist genocide gang, Israel, continues its atrocities indiscriminately, targeting the elderly, women, and children. While we are heartbroken and outraged, we remain steadfast and hopeful. As the Quran declares in Surah Al Imran, 'You will be defeated and driven into hell as a group' (3:12). Yes, they will be defeated! Just as in Damascus, victory and conquest in Gaza, by Allah’s will, belong to the believers." 

Referring to Martin Luther King's words, "What scares me is not the oppression of the wicked but the silence of the good," Yalçın stressed the importance of raising voices against injustice. He continued:

"We are here to amplify our voice against genocide and to share the truth with humanity. There is a reality that we must always proclaim and confront the hypocritical West with: In Palestine, this is not war but occupation and genocide. Innocent children are being murdered, cities are destroyed, and hospitals, mosques, and schools are reduced to rubble. While heroes fight to protect their families and homeland, we have an undeniable duty to be the resounding voice of Gaza and the guardians of the oppressed. No matter the cost, we stand on the right side of history, defending humanity’s dignity, and becoming the conscience of the oppressed against tyranny. We will not allow Zionist products into our homes, and we will inspire our children and youth with the love for Al Quds and the Palestinian cause." 

Yalçın: "We Will Resist Until Palestine is Free"

In his concluding remarks, Ali Yalçın underscored their unity with the oppressed, vowing to fill the squares until the oppression in Gaza ends. He declared:

"We will continue to boycott genocidal brands and shout against injustice despite global silence. I salute you all with respect, send my greetings to Gaza, and pledge to continue the resistance! Down with genocidal Zionism! Long live a free Palestine, from river to sea!"