The participants set off for the bridge after performing the dawn prayer in a number of Istanbul mosques, including Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed, Fatih and Suleymaniye, where they marched in groups, chanting slogans in support of Gaza, and raising Turkish and Palestinian flags.
The organizers confirmed that participation included land and sea, as citizens followed the event from boats, while large banners were raised with the words “Justice for Gaza” written in Turkish and English, amidst tight security measures and a heavy police presence.
Bilal Erdogan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Elm Yayma Foundation and member of the Supreme Advisory Council of TÜGVA, said that what is happening in Gaza is “not a war but a systematic extermination,” considering that targeting civilians and preventing humanitarian aid constitutes a clear violation of international law.
The head of the Turkish Youth Foundation, Ibrahim Basinci, explained that the gathering aimed to register a moral and historical stance towards what he described as the ongoing genocide in Gaza, noting that the attendees came from different ages and groups.
A large number of officials, political and public figures participated in the gathering, while the organizers estimated the number of participants at about 520,000 people.
