Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of Türkiye’s major cities Sunday in powerful demonstrations of solidarity with the people of Gaza and support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, which attempted to break the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid.

In Istanbul, crowds marched from Hagia Sophia toward the banks of the Golden Horn, where a flotilla of boats — draped in Turkish and Palestinian flags — awaited them. The sea of Palestinian flags and roaring chants decrying Israel’s “barbaric violence” turned major thoroughfares into stages of mass resistance. Istanbul saw one of the largest demonstrations nationwide.

Similar scenes unfolded in Ankara, where protesters gathered outside Melike Hatun Mosque before marching through the heart of the capital toward Kızılay National Will Square. Among those in attendance were Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin. The crowd included people of all ages, chanting slogans condemning Israel and waving Palestinian banners.

In İzmir, solidarity was also expressed at sea: dozens of boats sailed with Palestinian flags in support of the flotilla. Meanwhile, along Lake Van in eastern Türkiye, fishermen, divers, and canoeists set off to the waters in a symbolic gesture of unity, cheered by thousands of spectators onshore.

While Türkiye has hosted pro-Palestinian demonstrations before, Sunday’s rallies carried added weight: they came just ahead of the second anniversary of the October 2023 escalation that led to sweeping Israeli offensives in Gaza and the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Türkiye played a pivotal role in the flotilla effort: more than 50 Turkish activists joined the mission, making Türkiye the country with the highest number of participants. The Turkish state openly backed their voyage, even after Israel intercepted the vessels in international waters and detained the activists.

On October 4, 137 detained flotilla activists were deported back to Türkiye, following their arrest by Israeli forces. Many of these international activists had been aboard the Sumud Flotilla when it was intercepted.

Türkiye’s vocal support for Gaza has long set it apart in regional diplomacy. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking a day before the rallies, affirmed Ankara’s commitment to stopping the genocide in Gaza. He said the Turkish government was using all available means — humanitarian, diplomatic, and political — to relieve the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.

Erdoğan also described his efforts to elevate the plight of Gazan children on the international stage, including high-level discussions at the U.N. General Assembly and contacts with the U.S. via President Trump and other world leaders. He pledged that Türkiye would not rest until peace, security, and dignity are achieved for Palestinians in Gaza.

“Türkiye will continue doing whatever is needed to prevent the death of another innocent person and to bring a smile to the faces of Gaza’s children,” he said.

Türkiye’s rallies were part of a broader global surge of pro-Palestinian demonstrations this Sunday, joining movements in Amsterdam, London, Madrid, and other European capitals. Protesters demanded international pressure on Israel, an end to the blockade, and the release of the detained flotilla activists.

In Istanbul alone, protesters walked from the Hagia Sophia to the Golden Horn, where dozens of boats joined the marches — a stirring visual of Muslim solidarity with occupied Palestine.

Sunday’s mass mobilizations revealed a force growing stronger: a Turkish public openly demanding that their country translate solidarity into action — not only in words, but in diplomatic pressure, humanitarian corridors, and regional coordination.

As the second anniversary of the Operation Aqsa Flood approaches, these rallies mark not only remembrance, but defiance. The people of Türkiye — through their presence in squares, on boats, and in chants — signaled that the Palestinian struggle is theirs too. (ILKHA)