Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in Ankara on Sunday, calling on the Turkish government to take decisive action against Israel over its ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the Kısa Dalga news website reported.
The rally was organized by the management of Köklü Değişim, an Islamist magazine. Protesters initially planned to walk from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters to the presidential complex, but the Ankara Governor’s Office denied permission for the march.
Instead, hundreds assembled in front of the US Embassy and proceeded to AKP headquarters, chanting slogans and carrying banners that said, “Muslims, unite and destroy Israel,” “Thousands of condemnations are worthless — send in the armies,” “Send Turkish soldiers to Gaza” and “Armies to al-Aqsa.”
Chants targeted both Israel and the Turkish government, while participants frequently shouted religious slogans. Police tightened security along the march route.
In May 2024 Turkey halted all direct trade with Israel in response to mounting domestic criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
However, the Turkish government has faced protests and accusations for allegedly continuing trade with Israel while adopting a harsh anti-Israeli rhetoric, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly accusing Israel of “genocidal behavior” and comparing the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration to those seen in Nazi Germany.
Organizer calls for cutting ties with Israel
Mahmut Kar, the general coordinator for Köklü Değişim Media, delivered a statement on behalf of the group, calling on President Erdoğan to take decisive action against Israel.
“Israel is a terrorist entity,” Kar said. “All diplomatic, military and economic ties with it must be immediately severed. Normalizing relations with a terrorist entity is a betrayal of Palestine.”
He demanded the closure of Israeli diplomatic missions in Turkey and the expulsion of Israeli diplomats. Kar also called for shutting down İncirlik Airbase and the Kürecik Radar Station, both located in southern Turkey.
The Kürecik Radar Station is a key component of NATO’s missile defense system. while İncirlik is a Turkish airbase used by NATO and the US for operations across the Middle East.
The two facilities are frequently targeted in pro-Palestinian protests in Turkey as part of calls to sever military ties seen as inconsistent with Ankara’s anti-Israel rhetoric since they are perceived as serving US and Israeli interests.
Further demands included a complete halt to trade with Israel, the revocation of licenses for companies that support the country and the stripping of Turkish citizenship from dual nationals allegedly involved in attacks on Gaza.
Gaza offensive sparks renewed mobilization
The protest was part of a broader wave of public anger in Turkey over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which many critics have described as a genocide. Köklü Değişim and its supporters said their march was aimed at confronting not just Israel but also the Turkish government for what they view as complicity through continued diplomatic and economic engagement.
In November 2024 Erdoğan announced that Turkey was severing diplomatic ties with Israel due to the country’s refusal to end the Gaza war.
Despite restrictions imposed by local authorities, the turnout was substantial, and the demonstration proceeded peacefully under a heavy police presence.
Despite the government’s anti-Israel rhetoric, pro-Palestinian activists in Turkey face close scrutiny, with many detained simply for staging protests against what they describe as the country’s continued trade with Israel.
At least 16 demonstrators were detained in İstanbul last week on accusations of insulting Erdoğan following a protest against the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), which hosts defense contractors known to supply weapons and military technology to Israel.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 that resulted in the death of 1,206 people and the taking of some 250 hostages.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, the Israeli military has killed at least 59,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 142,000 since October 7, 2023.
A report released by Amnesty International on December 5 concludes that Israel’s actions in Gaza qualify as genocide.