The Prophet Lovers Foundation (Peygamber Sevdalıları Vakfı) held a rally in Istanbul under the theme “Occupation and massacre continue in Gaza,” calling on governments, international organizations and guarantor countries to take immediate and concrete steps to protect Palestinians and end the ongoing violence in Gaza.

The demonstration was held at the Aksaray Metro exit with the support of the Free Jerusalem Platform and İTTİHADUL ULEMA. HÜDA PAR Deputy Chairman Abdullah Aslan and the party’s Istanbul Provincial Chairman Mehmet Eşin also attended the event.

The program opened with a recitation from the Qur’an by Günay İşeri. Journalist and writer Mehmet Zülküf Yel then addressed the gathering, stressing that the suffering of civilians in Gaza should be viewed as a matter concerning humanity as a whole.

“If children and women are dying somewhere, cities are being plundered and a civilization is being destroyed, then all of humanity bears responsibility,” Yel said.

Referring to Gaza as a “front” and “fortress” against Zionism, Yel said the Palestinian territory should not be forgotten and called for continued solidarity with those suffering there.

“Our place must be beside the oppressed,” he said, arguing that people should oppose oppression regardless of religion, ethnicity, race or geography.

Yel also accused Israel of killing thousands of children and civilians in Gaza and said the international community could not remain silent in the face of the humanitarian crisis.

Calls for stronger international action

Mustafa Kızıl, spokesperson for the Prophet Lovers Foundation, read a joint statement on behalf of the organizations involved in the demonstration.

Kızıl described the situation in Gaza as one of the most serious humanitarian crises in recent history and accused Israel of maintaining what he called a policy of occupation, siege and mass killing.

He criticized what he described as “double standards” in the application of international law and said the failure of governments, including Muslim-majority countries, to take sufficiently concrete action had contributed to the continuation of the crisis.

Kızıl also praised the resilience of Palestinians in Gaza, describing their continued resistance as an example of determination and steadfastness in the face of the conflict.

The organizations said their gathering was intended as an appeal to the international community and a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

They also condemned what they described as genocide, occupation and attacks against civilians.

Regional concerns

Kızıl further argued that Israel's military actions had implications beyond the Palestinian territories.

He cited Israeli strikes and military operations involving Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, as well as what he described as threats against other countries in the region, arguing that the consequences of the conflict extended beyond Gaza.

“The imperialist and expansionist mentality knows no bounds,” Kızıl said, warning that silence in the face of what the organizations regard as Israeli aggression could have wider regional consequences.

Six-point call

The organizations called on guarantor states and international institutions to take immediate measures and outlined six demands.

They called for:

• Immediate and concrete measures to end the occupation and violence in Gaza;
• Uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian, medical and food assistance to Palestinians;
• Greater unity among Muslim-majority countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in responding to the Gaza crisis;
• Guarantor countries, including Türkiye, to fulfill their responsibilities and respond to alleged violations of the ceasefire;
• A complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and efforts toward a lasting and just political agreement;
• An end to restrictions and raids affecting Al-Aqsa Mosque and the preservation of uninterrupted Muslim access to worship there.

Kızıl also urged governments and international organizations to remember their responsibilities toward civilians affected by the conflict.

“History records not only what happened, but also who remained silent in the face of what happened, who objected, and who took concrete steps,” he said.

The gathering ended with a prayer led by Günay İşeri. (ILKHA)