Led by religious and civic leaders, the “We Do Not Remain Silent” rally drew participants from over 400 civil society groups.
Tens of thousands march in Istanbul in solidarity with Palestine
Tens of thousands of people have gathered across Istanbul to march in solidarity with Palestine, calling for an end to war on Palestinians.
The “We Do Not Remain Silent, We Do Not Forget Palestine” rally, organised by the Humanitarian Alliance and the National Will Platform, brought together more than 400 civil society organisations.
Participants began their day on Thursday by performing the Fajr (dawn) prayer at major mosques including Ayasofya Grand Mosque, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Suleymaniye, and Eminonu Yeni Cami. From there, groups set off toward Galata Bridge, waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyehs, and chanting slogans such as “From Istanbul to Gaza, a thousand greetings to the resistance” and “Free Palestine.”
Police maintained tight security along the march route, but organisers described the rally as a peaceful demonstration of public support for Palestinians.
Many participants expressed hope that 2026 would bring justice, peace, and an end to the suffering in Gaza, calling the demonstration a “powerful message of solidarity” from Istanbul to the world.
