 a permit to hold a pro-Palestinian march and rally at İstanbul’s Galata Bridge on Friday, sparking criticism from party officials, Turkish media reported.){kind=link}
Turkish authorities denied the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) a permit to hold a pro-Palestinian march and rally at İstanbul’s Galata Bridge on Friday, sparking criticism from party officials, Turkish media reported.
CHP İstanbul Chairman Özgür Çelik condemned the decision, saying the party had notified the authorities rather than seeking permission, adding, “Is supporting Palestine now banned?” The planned demonstration, titled “From the River to the Sea, Free Palestine March,” was intended to protest US President Donald Trump’s recent comments advocating for the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza.
The İstanbul Governor’s Office did not provide a detailed explanation for blocking the march but cited restrictions on demonstrations in non-designated areas. CHP officials accused the government of double standards, noting that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies recently held a large-scale pro-Palestinian rally at the same location.
That January 1 rally, organized by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and the National Will Platform, drew tens of thousands of supporters. Bilal Erdoğan, son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressed the crowd, reaffirming Turkey’s backing for Palestine. However, critics labeled the event a public relations move, pointing to reports that Turkey has continued crude oil shipments to Israel despite Ankara’s declared embargo.
A report by the Stop Fueling Genocide campaign found that at least 10 crude oil shipments were delivered from Turkey to Israel in 2024. The shipments reportedly included Azeri crude oil transported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Critics accused the Erdoğan government of hypocrisy, arguing that Turkey’s trade with Israel contradicts its public stance on Gaza.
A December report by Amnesty International concluded that Israel’s military actions in Gaza amounted to genocide. The health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a military campaign following a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,206 people in Israel and resulted in the taking of some 250 hostages.