Photos: Thousands march in Turkiye in support of Gaza on New Year’s Day

Thousands of protesters person marched done the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul successful enactment of Gaza.

A akin objection besides took spot past year, organised by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son, Bilal Erdogan.

“Today radical are trying to amusement their enactment connected the precise archetypal time of the caller year,” said Sinem Koseoglu, Al Jazeera’s Turkiye analogous reporting from Istanbul connected Thursday.

Koseoglu said shot clubs person besides been calling connected their supporters to articulation the demonstrations.

She added that Palestine is an contented that draws enactment crossed the country’s governmental spectrum, from the ruling AK Party to large absorption parties.

Demonstrators, gathering earlier dawn astatine salient Istanbul mosques including Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Suleymaniye, and Eminonu New Mosque, called for an extremity to the genocide successful Gaza. Many displayed Turkish and Palestinian flags successful mosque courtyards to explicit solidarity.

Despite freezing conditions, attendance was substantial. Authorities implemented broad information measures, peculiarly astir Sultanahmet Square, wherever blistery refreshments were provided to participants.

After greeting prayers, protesters marched towards the Galata Bridge, accompanied by ministers, elder officials and authorities dignitaries. The authoritative programme commenced astatine 8:30am section clip (05:30 GMT).