Tens of Thousands March for Gaza on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge

On January 1, 2026, tens of thousands of citizens gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, in a historic pro-Palestine demonstration on the iconic Galata Bridge. The march, organized by over 400 civil society, religious, and volunteer groups, coincided with the New Year and carried the powerful theme: “We Are Not Giving In, We Are Not Silent, We Are Not Forgetting Palestine”.

🇵🇸Gazze susarsa, vicdan susar. Biz susmayacağız

📌 “Sinmiyoruz, susmuyoruz, Filistin’i unutmuyoruz” diyerek sabah namazında camilere akın eden on binlerce vatandaş, tarihi bir yürüyüşle Galata Köprüsü’nü doldurdu pic.twitter.com/vmOm9sMz4S

— GZT (@gztcom) January 1, 2026

Participants assembled after morning prayers at nearby mosques, including the New Mosque (Yeni Cami), before marching onto the bridge. The crowd, estimated at between tens of thousands and over 500,000, carried Turkish and Palestinian flags and banners reading “Justice For Gaza” in English and “Gazze'ye Adalet” in Turkish.

Prominent figures attended, including Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, who described the ongoing situation in Gaza as genocide and drew comparisons to war crimes from the Bosnian conflict. Lebanese-Swedish singer Maher Zain performed “Free Palestine”, adding a cultural dimension to the protest.

The rally featured slogans like “Murderer Israel will be held accountable”, “From the river to the sea, free Palestine”, and “A thousand greetings from Istanbul to the resistance in Gaza”, highlighting the persistent global focus on Gaza amid the Israel-Palestine conflict. Civil groups distributed food and support on-site, emphasizing solidarity and humanitarian concern.

This marks the third annual Gaza solidarity march in Istanbul, reflecting both public and governmental support for Palestine in Turkey. Social media reactions, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), showed widespread support, with participants emphasizing unity and conscience in response to ongoing violence in Gaza since October 2023.

FAQs

• Q1: When did the Gaza solidarity march take place in Istanbul?
  A1: The march occurred on January 1, 2026, coinciding with New Year celebrations.
• Q2: Who participated in the march?
  A2: Tens of thousands of citizens, over 400 civil society and volunteer groups, and notable figures such as Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç and singer Maher Zain.
• Q3: What was the main message of the protest?
  A3: The protest called for justice for Gaza, unity in solidarity, and a stand against oppression, with slogans emphasizing resistance and accountability.
• Q4: Where did the march begin?
  A4: Participants gathered at mosques like the New Mosque (Yeni Cami) and marched to Galata Bridge, filling it completely with demonstrators.
• Q5: How many people attended?
  A5: Estimates range from tens of thousands to over 500,000 people.