Women and men of all ages, student groups, and families came together at Istanbul’s Yenikapi Square on Sunday to show solidarity with Palestinians following the recent Israeli restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al Quds.
“Jerusalem is our heart,” stressed a 32-year-old Turkish woman, who was at the rally with her 3-year-old baby girl carrying a Palestinian flag.
Esra, who did not want to reveal her last name, said she brought her baby to the rally as she believed “the Palestinian issue should be learned from early childhood”.
Accusing Muslim countries of not doing enough to support the Palestinian cause, she said the only solution to the issue “is an Islamic unity which will act strongly against oppression”.
85-year-old Nurhayat Kurt, who joined the rally in her wheelchair said Israel would have to give up in the end.
Kurt stressed that Al-Aqsa was significant for Islam. “I am here with my children and grandchildren. The more Muslims are united against Israel, the better our voice will be heard,” she said.
“Everybody should do what they can for our Palestinian brothers and sisters”.
Esra and Kurt were among the hundreds of people who attended The Great Jerusalem Rally organized by a number of Turkish NGOs.
Dozens of representatives from civil society organizations including the Anatolian Youth Foundation (AGD), the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), and Yedi Hilal Foundation, gathered at the square and vowed that they would not leave Al-Aqsa Mosque to Israel.
Protesters at the rally chanted anti-Israel and pro-Palestine slogans, as they carried both Turkish and Palestine flags in support of their fellow Muslims.
Sunday’s gathering is the last of a series of demonstrations that have been held across Turkey over the last week following the recent restrictions Israel placed on Palestinians entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
