Hundreds of Thousands Rally for Palestine on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge

Around 520,000 people gathered on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day for a mass demonstration in support of Palestinians and to call for an end to the war in Gaza, according to organizers.

The march, held under the slogan “We won’t cower, we won’t keep quiet, we won’t forget Palestine,” was organized by the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform, with the participation of more than 400 civil society organizations. The Turkish Youth Foundation (TUGVA) led the event.

Participants began assembling before dawn after morning prayers at major mosques across Istanbul, including Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Suleymaniye and the Eminonu New Mosque. Carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags, crowds gathered in mosque courtyards before marching on foot toward Galata Bridge.

Despite freezing temperatures, turnout was high. Authorities imposed extensive security measures, particularly around Sultanahmet Square, and provided hot refreshments to demonstrators. The main program began at about 8:30 a.m. local time.

Officials, artists join demonstration

Ministers, senior officials and figures listed in the official state protocol joined the march. A large banner depicting “Hanzala,” the iconic Palestinian cartoon figure created by the late artist Naji al-Ali, was displayed near the main press platform.

The event also featured performances by well-known artists, including Lebanese-Swedish singer Maher Zain, Turkish singer Esat Kabakli and the band Grup Yuruyus.

Speaking to reporters, Bilal Erdoğan, chair of the Ilim Yayma Foundation’s Board of Trustees and a member of TUGVA’s High Advisory Board, said the new year had begun with prayers for Palestine and described the gathering as a demonstration of moral and spiritual unity.

Addressing the crowd, TUGVA Chair Ibrahim Beşinci said the scale of participation reflected a collective stance against what he described as the ongoing violence in Gaza. He cited figures on civilian deaths and destruction and commemorated three Turkish police officers killed days earlier in an operation against the Daesh militant group.

Sports figures and cultural resistance

Support for the march was also voiced by prominent sports officials. The chairmen of Beşiktaş, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, along with a Fenerbahçe board member, publicly encouraged participation, alongside statements from several other clubs.

An art installation titled “Roots” was unveiled on Galata Bridge, featuring an olive tree rising from rubble and scattered cultural objects, symbolizing memory, resilience and cultural resistance in Gaza, organizers said.

(Source: Anadolu Agency)