Ankara Palestine Solidarity Platform (ANFIDAP), alongside dozens of civil society organizations, is set to stage a massive march Sunday evening toward the Turkish Grand National Assembly under the banner “Humanitarian Corridor from Anatolia to Parliament, from Parliament to Gaza.”

The demonstration aims to demand urgent action to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, where Palestinians have endured 670 days of relentless Israeli aggression, starvation, and mass displacement.

HÜDA PAR Ankara Provincial Chairman Ahmet Karaarslan, speaking to ILKHA, condemned the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel, which he described as a “murderous regime” responsible for a brutal genocide in Gaza. “For 670 days, Israel has been raining bombs on civilians, starving them, and denying them basic necessities. Thousands of babies face death if a humanitarian corridor is not opened immediately,” Karaarslan said. “This is not just a political issue—it is a matter of conscience and humanity itself.”

The march, expected to draw thousands from across Türkiye, underscores the growing urgency to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 61,369 Palestinians, including 17,400 children, have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An additional 152,850 people have been injured, and 14,222 remain missing, presumed dead. The blockade and continuous Israeli airstrikes have led to widespread famine, with 217 Palestinians, including 100 children, dying of starvation, and five more reported deaths in the past 24 hours alone.

Karaarslan called for immediate action, urging the Turkish government to take a leading role in breaking the siege on Gaza. “Words are no longer enough. The time for statements has passed. We call on everyone in authority, especially our government, to act swiftly and decisively to ensure a humanitarian corridor is opened without delay,” he said. He also invited all Turkish citizens, particularly those in Ankara, to join the march, emphasizing its significance as a stand for humanity. “This is not just a march for Gaza—it is a march for our shared human values,” he added.

Thousands of vehicles from across Türkiye are reportedly en route to Ankara, signaling widespread public support for the cause. The demonstration comes amid escalating global outrage over Israel’s planned occupation of Gaza City, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres called a “dangerous escalation” during an emergency UN Security Council session earlier today. The international community, including pro-Palestinian groups in Türkiye, has increasingly called for concrete measures to halt what they describe as Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where the lack of food, water, medicine, and shelter has pushed millions to the brink of survival.

The march to the Turkish Grand National Assembly is seen as a critical moment for Türkiye to assert its moral leadership in advocating for Palestinian rights and ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Organizers hope the demonstration will pressure the government to spearhead international efforts to deliver aid and break the suffocating blockade imposed by Israel, which has been condemned by the International Criminal Court and faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

As Ankara prepares for this evening’s historic protest, the message is clear: the people of Türkiye stand united with Gaza, demanding justice, humanity, and an end to the relentless suffering inflicted upon Palestinians. (ILKHA)