Over 500,000 gather at Istanbul's Galata Bridge in massive pro-Palestine march
Approximately 520,000 people assembled at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge early on New Year's Day for a massive demonstration in solidarity with Palestine. Organized by civil society groups, the event featured prayers, speeches, and calls to end the violence in Gaza, drawing participation from government officials, artists, and sports club leaders.
An estimated 520,000 people gathered at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge in the early hours of New Year's Day for a massive public march in support of Palestine. Organized under the umbrella of the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform, the demonstration brought together over 400 civil society organizations, led by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TUGVA), under the slogan “We won’t cower, we won’t keep quiet, we won’t forget Palestine.”
Dawn Prayers and March to the Bridge
Before dawn, participants convened at major Istanbul mosques, including Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and Sultanahmet, for prayers before marching toward the bridge. Despite freezing temperatures, the crowd, carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags, was joined by ministers, senior officials, and figures from the state protocol. The program commenced at 8:30 a.m. local time, featuring a large banner of the iconic Palestinian symbol “Hanzala” and performances by artists such as Maher Zain.
Speeches Highlight Moral Stance and Loss in Gaza
In his address, TUGVA Chair Ibrahim Beşinci described the bridge as a “tribune of conscience,” highlighting the collective moral stance against the violence in Gaza. He cited devastating figures, stating that over the past 27 months, 70,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza, 2,600 families completely erased, and 45,000 Palestinians underwent amputations. Bilal Erdoğan, a member of TUGVA’s High Advisory Board, emphasized the spiritual significance of beginning the new year with prayers for Palestine and for the nation's martyrs.
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Broad Cultural and Institutional Support
The event garnered widespread support, with chairs of major Turkish sports clubs like Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor publicly backing the march. An art installation titled “Roots” was unveiled on the bridge, symbolizing cultural resistance against the destruction in Gaza through symbols like an olive tree rising from rubble and scattered books and instruments. The demonstration underscores Türkiye’s deep-rooted public solidarity with the Palestinian cause and its consistent call for an immediate end to the violence and a just, lasting peace.
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