Crowds gather in Istanbul for solidarity march in support of Gaza

ISTANBUL

Supporters of Palestinians gathered in central Istanbul before dawn on Thursday ahead of a march across the city’s Galata Bridge.

The event, described as the “Big Gaza March”, is being  organized by the National Will Platform and the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), with around 400 civil society organizations expected to join under the slogan: “We will not back down, we will not stay silent, we will not forget Palestine.”

Participants met ahead of morning prayers at several historic mosques — including the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Süleymaniye and Yeni mosques — with many carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags.

Turkish media reported heightened security measures around the bridge as groups gathered early, with marchers expected to set off after prayers and walk along the tram line toward the rally area on the Galata Bridge.

Istanbul previously hosted the event in 2024 and 2025, drawing around 450,000 participants each year, including representatives from 308 NGOs.