A massive march involving hundreds of thousands of people took place on the first day of 2025 in Istanbul in solidarity with Palestine and condemnation of Israel.

The march started from several mosques after morning prayers and moved across the Galata Bridge with protesters carrying Palestinian and Turkish flags.

The protest was organized by the National Will platform, which includes 308 non-governmental organizations.

In the middle of the Galata bridge was a huge banner with the slogan “Stop the genocide in Gaza”, written in Turkish and English.

The rally was addressed by Erdogan’s son Bilal, who heads a pro-Palestine donor group, condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and noting that we are on the 453rd day of the “genocide” taking place there.

As Anadolu Agency reported, Bilal Erdogan referred to the deaths of infants, women, elderly people, doctors, journalists and rescue workers from Isaril, as well as attacks on schools, mosques and temples.

“The masks of the West have fallen in Gaza. Where are human rights? Where are the rights of children? Where are the rights of women? Where is freedom of the press and freedom of expression? All the values of the West died in Gaza,” the son of Turkey’s president said, among other things.

Erdogan’s son also referred to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, saying “just as we freed Hagia Sophia from its chains, we will do the same tomorrow with the Al-Aqsa mosque.”

During the march, slogans such as “the murdering state of Israel will be held accountable” and “martyrs don’t die” were heard.