Hundreds of thousands gather in Istanbul to honour Haniyeh's 'last call'

Istanbul has witnessed a massive outpouring of support as hundreds of thousands gathered at Ayasofya Square for the "Last Call from Martyr Haniyeh" event, organised by the Support for Palestine Platform.

Hundreds of thousands rallied in Istanbul on Saturday, August 3, the day the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for to be declared “International Day of Action for Gaza”.

Three days before Israel assassinated him during a visit to the Iranian capital of Tehran, Haniyeh called on all Arab, Muslim and world nations to the streets in solidarity with the people of Gaza under Israeli bombardment and Palestinian captives in Israeli prisons.

Following Haniyeh’s assassination, pro-Palestinian activists took his “last call” and organised protests around the world.

Participants from various parts of the historical peninsula converged on Ayasofya Square on Saturday, marching through Eminonu, Gulhane Park, and the streets around Kucukayasofya. The gathering quickly swelled beyond the square, spilling into adjacent streets and alleys.

Protesters waved Turkish and Palestinian flags, carried keffiyehs while chanting slogans advocating for Palestinian freedom.

The crowd voiced strong opposition to Israel and expressed support for Gaza with chants such as "Free Palestine from the river to the sea," "Murderer US get out of Palestine," "Murderer Israel get out of Palestine," "May our blood and lives be sacrificed to Al-Aqsa," and "Salute to Hamas, continue resistance."

Banners in Turkish, Arabic, and English bore messages like "There is genocide in Gaza," "Israel stop the genocide," and "Let the massacre end, let children not die."

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an October 7 attack by Hamas.

More than 39,500 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 91,300 injured, according to local health authorities.

Almost 10 months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered it to immediately halt its attacks in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.