Gaza: call for a massive mobilization on January 1st

At the initiative of TÜGVA, a large march in support of Gaza is scheduled for January 1st, 2026, on the Galata Bridge in Istanbul. The organizers denounce the absence of a genuine ceasefire and call for international mobilization in the face of what they describe as a crime against humanity.

A gathering announced on the Galata Bridge

On January 1st, 2026, starting at 8:30 a.m., thousands of citizens are expected on the Galata Bridge for a march in support of Gaza. The demonstration, organized under the auspices of TÜGVA (Turkish Youth Foundation), was presented during a meeting held at its headquarters.

The organizers intend to make the Galata Bridge a symbol of refusal to remain silent in the face of the situation in Gaza and, more broadly, in Palestine.

“There is no genuine ceasefire in Gaza”

A member of TÜGVA’s High Advisory Council, Bilal Erdoğan emphasized that the current period described as a ceasefire does not reflect the reality on the ground. According to him, violence continues not only in Gaza but has also intensified in the West Bank, directly targeting civilians.

He states that these observations are shared by many international organizations present on the ground.

A direct denunciation of the international order

Speaking at the event, TÜGVA’s president, Beşinci, delivered a highly critical speech toward Western powers, stating that world peace cannot be left “at the mercy of puppet leaders.”

Referring to the Bosnian war, he drew a parallel with the current situation, questioning the very notion of international justice at a time when, in his words, “a seven-month-old baby dies of cold in a tent.”

He called on families, young people, and the entire civil society to “break the wall of silence” by gathering en masse on the Galata Bridge.

A speech centered on the qualification of genocide

Bilal Erdoğan, for his part, described the ongoing events as genocide, referring to the deaths of more than 70,000 civilians, including at least 20,000 children. He recalled that this qualification has been adopted by several independent courts and international organizations, including certain Israeli human rights NGOs.

According to him, the situation goes beyond any political interpretation and directly engages the conscience of humanity.

Responsibility, reparations, and a political solution

TÜGVA officials also called for those responsible for the crimes to be held accountable, urging the condemnation of Israel to pay war reparations. The reconstruction of Gaza, they argue, must fall upon the power they designate as responsible for the destruction.

They finally call on the international community to act swiftly to implement a two-state solution, which they consider an essential condition for establishing lasting peace in the region.

A final call for mobilization

The organizers concluded by calling for a massive mobilization on January 1st, in order to make “a strong voice heard by the world” from Istanbul and to remind that Gaza is neither forgotten nor silenced.