Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Sunday to show solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, a historic humanitarian mission sailing to Gaza with participants from approximately 50 countries.

Organized by the Palestine Support Platform and supported by numerous NGOs, the march highlighted growing international support for Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing blockade and attacks.

The demonstration began after afternoon prayers at the Fıstıkağacı metro exit in Üsküdar and proceeded to Üsküdar Square, with participants carrying Palestinian flags and banners while chanting slogans in support of the besieged enclave.

The event opened with a Quran recitation by Muhsin Macit, Imam of the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque. IHH President Bülent Yıldırım addressed the crowd, recounting the decades-long struggle to break Gaza’s blockade. “When we took up the cause of Muslims, you did not leave any of our organizations alone… We worked for many years to break the blockade on earth,” Yıldırım said, referencing past missions including the Mavi Marmara and the efforts of the ‘Lifting the Blockade Commission’ established in 2008.

Yıldırım emphasized the ongoing efforts of the Vicdan, Madleen, and Hanzala ships, which remain under Israeli control, vowing that these vessels will be reclaimed and integrated into the Sumud Fleet. He also announced the preparation of second, third, and fourth waves of the flotilla, highlighting the international support the mission has garnered. “The Italian Prime Minister has announced protection for these ships, and similar announcements are expected from Tunisia, Algeria, and Türkiye,” he added, urging participants not to lose hope.

Dr. Hani Aldali, a Palestinian activist, spoke about the existential threat facing Gaza. “The Zionists’ goal is not only to kill Gaza, but to wipe it off the map because it represents resistance,” Aldali said. He called on Turkey and the global community to uphold justice and resist betrayal, reminding the crowd of the sacrifices made on the Mavi Marmara. “This war is not just geographical—it is between right and wrong, between faith and disbelief, between humanity and savagery,” he emphasized.

Reading a statement on behalf of the Palestine Support Platform, İsmail İleri highlighted the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Since October 7, 2023, children, women, and the elderly have been dying daily—on one hand from bombs, on the other from hunger. Access to food, water, and medicine is deliberately blocked,” İleri said, condemning the Israeli blockade as a weapon of war.

İleri underscored the global dimension of resistance, noting that free and dignified people from 44 countries have joined the Global Sumud Flotilla to bear witness and take action. “These ships are more than humanitarian aid—they are symbols of resistance, hope, and moral responsibility,” he said, recalling previous missions like the Mavi Marmara, Madleen, and Hanzala, which stood as testaments to international solidarity despite Israeli attacks.

The program concluded with a prayer led by Üsküdar District Mufti İbrahim Kapancı, asking for the protection of Gaza’s people and the success of the flotilla.

The march in Istanbul reflects growing international awareness and determination to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, as well as continued solidarity with Palestinian resistance efforts across land, sea, and air. (lLKHA)