Hundreds of Thousands Rally for Gaza on New Year’s Day in Istanbul

More than 500,000 people took part in a massive pro-Gaza rally in Istanbul on New Year’s Day, marching through the city and converging on the Galata Bridge, according to police sources.

The demonstration unfolded in freezing temperatures, as crowds waved Palestinian and Turkish flags and filled major streets leading to the bridge. The scale of the turnout made the rally one of the largest public demonstrations held in Turkey in recent months, drawing participants from across the country.

The march was organized by a broad coalition of civil society groups, with organizers saying more than 400 organizations were involved. Demonstrators gathered in the early hours of the morning and moved toward the Galata Bridge, where the main rally and speeches were held. Banners and signs carried messages calling for an end to the fighting in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.

At the center of the rally’s messaging was the slogan displayed prominently throughout the march and at the main stage: “We won’t cower, we won’t keep quiet, we won’t forget Palestine.” The phrase was chanted by participants as they crossed the bridge and assembled along the waterfront.

One of the organizers of the event was Bilal Erdogan, the youngest son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was present at the event and addressed participants from the stage. Speaking to the crowd, Erdogan framed the rally as a collective expression of solidarity and prayer at the start of the new year. “We are praying that 2026 will bring goodness for our entire nation and for the oppressed Palestinians,” he said.

The program at the Galata Bridge included speeches by organizers and representatives of participating groups, as well as a brief cultural segment. Lebanese-born singer Maher Zain performed his song “Free Palestine” as part of the rally, drawing cheers from the crowd gathered along the bridge and nearby streets.

Security forces were deployed in large numbers around the march route and rally site, but no incidents were reported. Police maintained a visible presence as crowds entered and exited the area, and the event concluded peacefully despite the size of the turnout. By midday, participants began dispersing from the Galata Bridge, with organizers hailing the rally as a demonstration of broad-based public engagement.