Istanbul police have blocked the streets to traffic in the historical part of the city, where on the first day of 2025 a mass action of solidarity between Turkey and the people of Palestine was organized. Its venue was the Galata Bridge near the Golden Horn Bay, where exactly a year ago a similar event took place, in which over 300 thousand people took part.
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According to the TRT Haber TV channel, tens of thousands of people after morning prayers with flags of Turkey, Palestine and banners condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza moved from the world famous mosques of Hagia Sophia (formerly Hagia Sophia), Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque), Sulaymaniye and New Mosque to the Galata Bridge. The organizer of the action under the slogan “Yesterday Hagia Sophia, today the Umayyads [Umayyad Mosque in Damascus], tomorrow Al-Aqsa [Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem]” was the “Platform of National Will”, which includes about 400 public organizations.
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“We have gathered here in solidarity with Palestine. We are here for the sake of Jerusalem, for the sake of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. <…> Palestine is not alone, we have always been and will be close to our Palestinian brothers. In Gaza, humanity is dying, its conscience is dying. Also , as Hagia Sophia was freed from its chains in its time, as the Umayyad mosque was liberated from a bloody dictator, so, with God’s help, the sun freedom and justice will rise in the Al-Aqsa mosque. This people will liberate Al-Aqsa, as it has happened in history. Everything starts with faith, you just have to believe,” one of the initiators of the action, the son of Turkish President Bilal Erdogan, said at the rally.
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Well-known politicians took part in the action, including former speaker of the Turkish Parliament Mustafa Sentop. Its participants chanted: “We awaken the world,” “The sun rises,” “Hagia Sophia yesterday, the Umayyad Mosque today, Al-Aqsa tomorrow.” According to TRT Haber, the number of participants in the current campaign may exceed last year. Local authorities have not yet provided information on how many people took part.
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Enhanced security measures have been taken in the event area. By decision of the Istanbul authorities, changes have been made to the movement of public transport and ferry services in the Bosphorus from early morning. Thousands of police officers provide security for the event.
