Turkish football giants call on fans to join New Year's Day rally for Palestine

Club chairs frame rally as a moral imperative

Galatasaray Chair Dursun Ozbek described the situation in Gaza as a "test of conscience for humanity" in a video message, declaring, "We will not get used to this silence." Trabzonspor Chairman Ertugrul Dogan called the gathering "a stance, not just a march," while Besiktas Chair Serdar Adali emphasized that "the bloodshed and tears in Palestine have not stopped."

Broad support across the Super Lig

Other top-flight clubs, including Fenerbahce, Basaksehir, Konyaspor, Kayserispor, and Gaziantep FK, issued social media statements endorsing the rally and encouraging public participation. The unified stance from traditionally rival fan bases highlights the widespread public sentiment in Türkiye regarding the conflict.

Context of ceasefire violations and civilian toll

The rally comes amid reports of continued violence despite a ceasefire agreement in October. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 400 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began. At a recent press conference, civil society representatives cited a death toll exceeding 70,000 civilians since the war's start in 2023, framing the event as an act of solidarity with the oppressed.