ISTANBUL (Palestine Foundation Information Center) A massive march was organized in the Turkish metropolitan city of Istanbul on Sunday under the slogan “Gaza is dying! Rise up” to denounce the genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Thousands of demonstrators participated in the march, which began at the train station in the Üsküdar district on the Asian side of Istanbul. It was organized by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH).
During the march, demonstrators chanted slogans against the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, such as: “Criminal Israeli entity, get out of Palestine,” “The children of Gaza are waiting for us,” and “Freedom Flotilla, set sail.”
They also chanted: “From Üsküdar to Gaza, a thousand greetings to the resistance,” “The pride of Gaza awakens the nation,” and “Israel is a killer, get out of Palestine.”
Participants held signs that read: “Send Turkish soldiers to Gaza,” “Stop the genocide in Gaza,” “More than 50,800 people have been martyred in Palestine,” “The blockade on Gaza is illegal,” and “O Islamic countries, stop the Zionist gang.”
The massive march headed toward Üsküdar Square in an atmosphere of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Last Sunday, another march under the same slogan was held, with thousands of demonstrators marching from Beyazıt Square to Sultanahmet Square in front of the historic Hagia Sophia Mosque, on the European side of Istanbul.
At the beginning of March 2025, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel ended. The agreement had gone into effect on January 19, mediated by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the United States, and was adhered to by the Palestinian resistance.
However, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu backed out of starting the second phase and resumed the genocide in the Gaza Strip on March 18. Since its resumption, 1,827 citizens have been martyred and 4,828 others injured—most of them children and women—according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip.
With American support, Israel has been committing acts of genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving over 168,000 Palestinians killed or wounded—most of them women and children and more than 11,000 missing.
