Around 450,000 people in Istanbul rallied on New Year's eve, waving Palestinian flags, and demanding an end to Israel's atrocities in Gaza.
The New Arab Staff
01 January, 2025
Istanbul hosts massive rally for Gaza as 400 NGOs unite in solidarity with Palestinians [Getty]
Thousands of people around the world abandoned highly anticipated New Year’s celebrations to instead rally and shed light on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing war.
In Turkey’s Istanbul, media reports said over 450,000 people gathered at the cities Galata Bridge to express solidarity with Palestinians as Israel continued to bombard the Strip.
Those involved in the rally started marching at dawn despite the cold winter chill and waved Palestinian and Turkish flags.
The rally in Istanbul was organised by the National Will Platform, a coalition of 308 NGOs.
Many used the rally to call for immediate international action against Israel and for the aggression to stop.
According to local media, boats also supported the rally from the sea and human rights activists addressed crowds during the event.
Bilal Erdogan, one of the broad of trustees at the event, condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and said, "all western values died in Gaza and the West".
Another NGO leader, Ibrahim Besinci, said "mothers’ eyes have no tears left, and fathers have no strength in their knees. Every square meter of Gaza has been watered with the blood of martyrs".
It comes as Israel’s war on the besieged enclave has killed at least 45,553 Palestinians and wounded over 108,379 others.
Similar rallies also took place in Sweden’s capital, where activists waved Palestinian flags and lit candles for those killed in the enclave.
Video footage shared online showed many braving the snow to chant for Palestinians to be freed from occupation and an end to the war.
In Norway, hundreds marched in Oslo’s town centre also waving Palestinian flags and chanting "free Palestine".
The rallies come as the UN and many rights organisations have raised alarm over the devastating humanitarian situation in the enclave.
Palestinians are facing dire conditions as temperatures drop and heavy rains flood tents for the displaced
Gaza’s civil defence said it had received hundreds of emergency calls to evacuate displaced people whose shelters were flooded by the rain.
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