ISTANBUL: Hundreds of thousands rallied in Istanbul on Wednesday, condemning Israeli actions against Palestinians and expressing support for Palestine, according to Anadolu Agency.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the rally commenced after early morning prayers, with participants waving Turkish and Palestinian flags. Organized by the National Will Platform, a coalition of 308 NGOs, the demonstration saw attendees march through the city, demanding international intervention against the ongoing violence.
The agency reported that demonstrators gathered on the Galata Bridge, where they prayed for an end to what they described as an Israeli massacre in Palestine. Protesters carried banners reading "Stop Genocide in Gaza" in both Turkish and English, and chanted slogans such as "Murderer Israel will be held accountable."
The rally comes amid ongoing conflict, with Israel continuing its military operations in the Gaza Strip, despite a legally binding decision from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering a halt to its offensive in Rafah. The conflict, ongoing since October 7, has resulted in at least 45,541 Palestinian deaths and over 108,338 injuries.
Additionally, more than 10,000 individuals are reported missing, believed to be trapped under debris from destroyed buildings throughout the Strip. Palestinian and international organizations report that women and children constitute the majority of casualties.
The violence has led to the displacement of nearly two million people from across Gaza, with most seeking refuge in the southern city of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, marking the largest Palestinian exodus since the 1948 Nakba.
