Thousands protest in Istanbul against massacre in Gaza
Thousands of people have protested in Istanbul over the massacre and hunger in Gaza. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Istanbul’s Beyazit Square after Maghrib prayers on Saturday evening (August 9) local time to protest against Israel’s ongoing massacre and food shortages in Gaza, Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu Agency reported. The demonstration was attended by various non-governmental organizations and the general public, and later they marched towards the historic Hagia Sophia Mosque. The protesters took part in the event to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and express solidarity with the people there, where violence is escalating and food and medicine shortages are severe. Organizers called on the international community to take urgent action to end the suffering. Earlier, Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has killed more than 61,000 people so far, causing strong condemnation worldwide. The operation has completely destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure and many people are dying of hunger and starvation. Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yaov Galant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. In addition, a genocide case is ongoing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for Israel’s war in Gaza. Among the protesters was Canadian-born teacher Jenny Molendijk Divleli. She said that the situation is getting worse by the day.
Molendijk Divleli added, “Everyone knows that there is a genocide going on in Gaza, but now it has become even more terrible by deliberately starving the Palestinian people. Every day, ten or twenty; Even hundreds of people are dying. We really have to raise our voices and do what we can.” Mohamed Ben Elsheikh, a Tunisian who has lived in Istanbul for four years, said the aim of the protest was to bring the voice of the people of Gaza to the world. “First of all, I would like to say hello to the brothers in Gaza and to Hamas. May God help them. We will be free soon,” he said. He strongly criticized the inaction of the international community. “It is a shame that children are dying. The whole of Gaza is being destroyed. There are so many things happening – murder, starvation, imprisonment. But the world is silent. The heads of state are not doing anything. We are protesting as Muslims, but it is not enough,” he said.
