Turkey Unites for Gaza

Protests against Israel, organized across Turkey's 81 provinces under the by the Palestine Support Platform, have brought together hundreds of thousands of people. These marches, held to protest the genocide perpetrated by Israel with the support of the United States since October 7, 2023, and the assassination of former Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, have given voice to Gaza's plight. The protests, notably in Ankara and Istanbul, were marked by massive press statements across all provinces. 

The demonstration at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Square saw participation from Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın, Bilal Erdoğan, Önder President Abdullah Ceylan, Hamas leader Talal Nassar, Memur-Sen Istanbul Provincial Representative Cesur Öztürk, representatives from political parties and NGOs, tens of thousands of citizens, and media members. Speaking at the event, Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın emphasized their presence in the squares of all 81 provinces to fulfill the martyr Haniyeh’s legacy and be the voice of the oppressed: 

"I greet you with the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, who said, ‘We will live free or die as martyrs.’ I greet you with the resilience of mothers who say, ‘Let all my children be martyrs, victory is ours.’ I greet you with the spirit of resistance of Palestinian fighters who say, ‘If we are hungry, we will eat the earth, but we will not leave our land.’ Today, our pain reaches the heavens. Today, our anger overflows. Today, we fill Turkey’s squares to fulfill the testament of martyr Haniyeh. We have 40,000 martyrs, 100,000 wounded. They have bloodied our sons and daughters. They have killed our mothers, sisters, and babies in their cradles," he declared. "Our hearts cannot contain our anger, our souls are restless, and our fury is immense." 

President Yalçın stated that Ismail Haniyeh, the beloved child of Palestine and the orphan of the Ummah, was martyred in a vile terrorist attack. He added: "Today, I know that no one’s heart here fits in their chest, no one’s soul fits in their body. The oppressors have put bitterness in our food, sorrow in our tears. Today, they vilely martyred Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, whose call we have gathered to hear. Haniyeh was a devoted leader all his life, a brave soul who could not be contained. He won elections, they ignored him; he resisted, they called him a terrorist; he said freedom, they martyred him. Curse the oppressors! May your martyrdom be blessed, your place be in paradise, your position be elevated, oh martyr! We witness your struggle, your testimony, and your martyrdom! You lived as you believed, you were a witness, you became a martyr. Your path is our path, your cause is our cause, your martyrdom is our guide. Our loss is great, our pain is immense, but our anger is greater. Today is a day of anger. Today is a day for Al-Aqsa. Today is a day to hate Zionism and imperialism. Today is a day to pledge to fight until Palestine is free from the river to the sea. Because martyrdom is a call to generations, to eras. We have received this call from Haniyeh and our 40,000 martyrs, we have embraced it and placed it on our heads. We have sharpened our resistance, renewed our consciousness.”  In Ankara, tens of thousands of citizens marched from Tuğba Altınok Mosque to the US Embassy, waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanting slogans after evening prayers. Protests were directed against the United States, the financier and perpetrator of the genocide. In other Anatolian cities, city squares were filled with lovers of Al-Quds. The demonstrations concluded with press statements and prayers.