Thousands gathered in the heart of Diyarbakır at a mass rally organized by the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation, raising their voices against Israeli atrocities and pledging renewed support for the Palestinian resistance.

The event was part of a growing wave of global solidarity with Gaza in response to a call issued by HAMAS for international mobilization.

With banners reading “Stop the Genocide in Gaza” and “Support the Resistance,” the rally took place at the Yenihal Bridge Junction in Kayapınar, drawing a wide cross-section of society — scholars, union leaders, youth groups, families, and representatives of Islamic organizations — all united by a common message: Enough silence, it is time to act.

‘From Saladin to Today — The Ummah Must Rise’

Opening the rally, respected scholar Molla Recai Güler delivered a fiery speech condemning both the Israeli regime and the inaction of Islamic nations.

“We are here in Diyarbakır, the land of martyrs, upon the call of HAMAS, the honourable defenders of Gaza,” Güler declared. “Gaza has been under siege for 140 days. Thousands have been martyred. And yet, where are the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia? Where are those who call themselves the protectors of Islam?”

Drawing on Islamic history and invoking the legacies of Saladin Ayyub and Abdulhamid II, Güler warned that the Ummah’s fragmentation and passivity would only bring disgrace: “If we do not unite, if we do not prepare, if we do not take up our duty, Allah will replace us with those who will.”

‘Gaza Is Dying Before Our Eyes — And the World Watches in Silence’

Following Güler’s address, Ramazan Tekdemir, Diyarbakır representative of Memur-Sen, Türkiye’s largest union confederation, read a detailed press release that tore into the hypocrisy of world governments and the moral collapse of global institutions.

Tekdemir began his address with a powerful recitation from Surah Ali Imran (3:13), drawing a poignant parallel between the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) who fought for divine justice and the Qassam fighters who today resist the Israeli occupation with unwavering determination.

He then turned the crowd’s attention to the horrifying reality unfolding in Gaza, painting a grim picture of devastation and genocide: since October 7, 2023, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been martyred, with over 150,000 others wounded—many of them left permanently disabled. At least 20,000 remain buried alive beneath the rubble, their bodies still unrecovered. The overwhelming majority of the victims—over 70 percent—are women and children. With 27 children murdered every single day, Gaza has tragically become what Tekdemir described as "a graveyard of babies," exposing the full cruelty of the Israeli regime’s war on a defenseless civilian population.

“A people is being exterminated with bombs, starvation, and disease. And all of it is broadcast live — yet the world does nothing,” Tekdemir said. “Aid convoys are blocked. Food is turned into bait. And so-called humanitarian corridors become zones of death.”

‘The Blood of Gaza’s Children Is on the Hands of Cowards and Collaborators’

Tekdemir delivered an emotional account of Omar (8), Emir (4), Siraj (2.5), and Semer (7) — four Palestinian children massacred while seeking food at an aid point. “Siraj lost both his eyes to shrapnel. One child watched his entire family martyred — and the world said nothing,” he said, his voice breaking.

He named and shamed the leaders of Islamic countries, accusing them of cowardice, betrayal, and complicity: “The blood of Gaza’s children is not just on the hands of the Zionists — it is also on the hands of Muslim rulers who dine in luxury while Gaza starves. It is on the hands of those who shake hands with murderers in the name of diplomacy.”

Demands for Action: Military Support, Ceasefire Enforcement, Boycott, and Resistance

The rally issued a bold list of urgent demands for the Islamic world, the international community, and all free peoples of conscience:

1. Immediate opening of Gaza’s borders, especially the Rafah crossing, to allow aid without Israeli oversight.
2. Full-scale political, diplomatic, and military support for HAMAS.
3. Provision of arms, logistics, and technology to the resistance forces battling the occupation regime.
4. Severe sanctions and legal pressure against the Zionist entity, especially in response to violations of ceasefire agreements.
5. Support for a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Palestinian territories.
6. Reconstruction of Gaza, with international oversight to ensure genuine aid reaches the population.
7. Permanent, lifetime boycott of Israeli-linked goods and companies supporting Israeli war crimes.
8. Mobilization of peacekeeping forces if Israel continues to sabotage ceasefire talks.

“We say clearly: This resistance must not be left alone. From Istanbul to Diyarbakır, from Kuala Lumpur to Karachi, the Ummah must rise. The boycott must be total. The support must be real — not symbolic,” Tekdemir said.

‘Hamas Is the Shield of This Ummah — Do Not Abandon Them’

Referencing Surah al-Baqarah (2:193) — "Fight them until there is no more oppression" — Tekdemir emphasized that supporting the resistance is not an option but a religious obligation.

“HAMAS is not a terrorist group. It is the shield of this Ummah. It is the front line of our honour. If Gaza falls, Mecca and Medina are next. We must stand not only with our words, but with our wealth, our weapons, our institutions.”

He concluded with a vow that echoed across the crowd: “We will not bow to Zionism. We will not forget Jerusalem. And we will not rest until this apartheid regime is wiped from the face of the earth. Gaza is not alone — and neither is the resistance!”

A Rising Tide of Solidarity from Türkiye

The Diyarbakır rally is part of a growing groundswell across Türkiye, where cities from Istanbul to Konya, Şanlıurfa to Adana have seen similar outpourings of solidarity. Türkiye’s pro-Islamic civil society has made clear: the Palestinian cause is a red line.

The Prophet’s Lovers Foundation, known for its religious educational programs and humanitarian activities, has stood firmly behind Gaza since the launch of the Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023. This latest rally marks a continuation of that commitment — one rooted in faith, identity, and history.

As the banners were lowered and the crowd dispersed, the message from Diyarbakır remained loud and clear: This is not just a war on Gaza. This is a war on Islam, justice, and humanity itself. And it will not be answered with silence. It will be answered with resistance. (ILKHA)