02.01.2026 14:11
Istanbul woke up to a historic day. Following the call of the National Will Platform, citizens flocked to mosques after the first morning prayer of the new year to gather at the Galata Bridge to draw attention to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and to shout their support for the Palestinian people. Tens of thousands are marching for Palestine.
On the first day of 2026, Turkey stands with Gaza from 7 to 70. Tens of thousands gathered on the Galata Bridge after the morning prayer, raising the slogan "We will not be silent, we will not be quiet, we will not forget Palestine" to draw attention to the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine.
The march was attended by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Deputy Chairperson of the AK Party and President of Social Policies Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation Bilal Erdoğan, President of TÜGVA İbrahim Beşinci, President of the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) Canan Sarı, along with many members of parliament and mayors.
TENS OF THOUSANDS MARCHED TO THE GALATA BRIDGE
Organized by the Humanity Alliance and the National Will Platform, the rally "We will not be silent, we will not be quiet, we will not forget Palestine" was attended by over 400 civil society organizations. Tens of thousands of participants gathered in mosques for the morning prayer and then began their march towards the Galata Bridge.
Citizens participating in the action led by the Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) gathered in front of the mosques after performing the morning prayer at Ayasofya-i Kebir Mosque, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Süleymaniye, and Eminönü New Mosque. The participants then started walking towards the Galata Bridge in groups.
HEAVY PARTICIPATION DESPITE COLD WEATHER
Many citizens arrived at Ayasofya-i Kebir Mosque, one of the gathering points before the action. Tens of thousands who performed the morning prayer here began their march towards the Galata Bridge. Despite the cold weather, participation was high, and hot refreshments were offered to participants in Sultanahmet Square, where extensive security measures were taken.
"A THOUSAND SALUTES FROM ISTANBUL TO GAZA"
Citizens holding Turkish and Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyehs in support of Gaza frequently chanted slogans such as "A thousand salutes from Istanbul to the resistance in Gaza" and "From the river to the sea, free Palestine."
After the morning prayer at Süleymaniye Mosque, citizens also began their march with Turkish and Palestinian flags in hand.
Participants marching with a banner reading "Justice for Palestine, conscience for the world" occasionally chanted slogans like "Long live the global intifada" and "Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine."
AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation Bilal Erdoğan, President of the ÖNDER Association of Imam Hatip Graduates Abdullah Ceylan, some members of parliament, mayors, and protocol members prayed the morning prayer at Karaköy Arab Mosque and then walked towards the Galata Bridge with the citizens.
Citizens walking in groups and individually reached the Galata Bridge. Participants were allowed into the area after being screened at police checkpoints. Various aid organizations also offered simit, tea, and soup to the citizens. Meanwhile, police teams took extensive security measures around the bridge and mosques.
BILAL ERDOĞAN: MAY 2026 BRING GOODNESS FOR OUR NATION AND PALESTINIAN VICTIMS
During the march, Bilal Erdoğan made a statement to the press, saying that they started the new year by praying for Palestine, and that it is important to know that gathering in mosques on the first morning of the year to make good prayers together is a significant spiritual strength, and that the nation believes in this.
Erdoğan stated, "On one hand, we pray for the oppressed in Palestine. On the other hand, we certainly remember our martyrs. On the other hand, we pray together that '2026 brings goodness for our entire nation and for the Palestinian victims.' We thank all those who participated, who raised their hands in these prayers, and who supported us."
Bilal Erdoğan expressed, "With each passing year, we feel that this morning is one where we collectively realize how strong our common values are, with broader participation than the previous year. That is why we are very happy. Inshallah, may God grant us this stance of our nation as a source of joy this year, grant freedom to our Palestinian brothers, and grant us the freedom of Jerusalem."
CEYLAN: WE BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE YEAR ZIONISM ENDS
ÖNDER President Ceylan stated in his remarks that they sent a very strong message together with hundreds of thousands from the Galata Bridge on the first morning of the new year and raised their voices.
Ceylan mentioned that a serious wave of conscience has flowed here, saying, "It is impossible for Israel's tyranny and the oppressors to stand in front of this wave of conscience. 2026 will be the year when Zionism, the world's largest cancer cell, will end, with God's permission. We believe this. The curse of the oppressed in Gaza has now reached the heavens. Oppression has spread everywhere, and all people of conscience around the world have risen up.
Ceylan stated, "Today, only in Turkey, in Istanbul, hundreds of thousands are flowing to Galata, but activity will begin again all over the world, and 2026, with God's permission, will be a brand new year for us, where a world based on justice and compassion is established."
BILAL ERDOGAN'S MESSAGE FOR GAZA
Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation, addressed the crowd during the historic march. In his speech, Erdoğan stated, "What is happening in Gaza is genocide. Our issue is with the Zionist ideology. We will not pause our struggle until the occupation ends. We will not underestimate the boycott; it will be the strongest answer to the question of what I am doing. We will say stop to the normalization of oppression with the boycott. We will say we are not a partner in this oppression. We will not be silent, we will not remain quiet, we will not forget Palestine, we will not let it be forgotten. We will continue this struggle until Gaza, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa Mosque are free."
STREETS AND AVENUES CLOSED
It was reported that preparations for the third support march for Palestine have been completed, and the streets and avenues leading to the Galata Bridge have been closed to traffic during the march. While drivers are being directed to alternative routes, it was noted that access to the Galata Bridge is provided by shuttle vehicles from many districts of Istanbul.
CASUALTIES HAVE RISEN TO 418 SINCE THE CEASEFIRE WAS ANNOUNCED
Despite the ceasefire coming into effect on October 10 in the Gaza Strip, Israeli attacks continue. According to a statement from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as a result of Israeli army attacks, 1 person lost their life in the last 48 hours in the Gaza Strip, 10 people were injured, and the bodies of 2 individuals who had previously died in earlier attacks were recovered from the rubble. Since the ceasefire came into effect, the death toll has risen to 418, and the number of injured has reached 1,152. Since the start of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the total death toll has reached 71,269, and the number of injured has reached 171,232.