Hundreds of dedicated activists set off from Istanbul on a powerful journey of solidarity towards the capital Ankara, joining a mass march under the banner “From Anatolia to Parliament, From Parliament to Gaza.”

The march, which is expected to draw thousands from all over the country, aims to amplify the urgent call to end the genocidal siege on Gaza and demand immediate humanitarian relief for the Palestinian people.

Gathering at Tuzla Mehmetçik Foundation Recreation Facilities, protesters from diverse districts assembled in convoy formation after delivering a press statement denouncing the ongoing crimes of the Zionist occupation regime in Gaza.

Speakers passionately condemned the nearly two-year-long siege imposed by Israel on Gaza, describing the systemic atrocities inflicted on the Palestinian people as an unparalleled affront to human dignity.

“The Zionist occupation regime has trampled human dignity in Gaza for nearly two years. Every day, their crimes multiply: destruction, plunder, starvation, famine, and denial of humanitarian aid — all unfolding before the indifferent eyes of the international community,” the statement declared.

Since October 7, 2023, over 60,000 Palestinian martyrs have fallen, with around 150,000 injured. The blockade weaponizes hunger itself, turning aid points — supposedly places of relief — into scenes of massacre. Over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face acute food insecurity, with nearly 600,000 suffering from life-threatening diseases caused by extreme hunger, and more than 70,000 children desperately needing treatment for severe malnutrition.

The march’s organizers highlighted that over 90% of Gaza has been reduced to rubble by the occupation forces, exploiting the silence and inaction of many Islamic countries and world powers alike.

“This is one of the greatest tragedies in human history. Zionist terrorists, backed by Western governments and enemies of Islam, are committing genocide against the Palestinian people, with no regard for borders, international laws, or morality,” the declaration stressed.

The marchers demand an immediate end to the humanitarian catastrophe and call for the opening of a safe corridor for aid to reach Gaza. They vow to carry the cause of Palestine relentlessly, rallying under the slogan: “From Anatolia to Parliament, from Parliament to Gaza.”

On the evening of the march, thousands will gather at Kocatepe Mosque at 18:30, then proceed in a unified procession to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, their voices raised for justice and liberation.

“We will not abandon our Palestinian brothers and sisters. Until Gaza is free, until resistance prevails, our squares will never be empty. We shoulder the sacred cause of Jerusalem with our lives and possessions, despite the relentless attacks and defamation campaigns by Zionists and their local collaborators,” the statement affirmed with resolve.

The Ankara Palestine Solidarity Platform (ANFIDAP), together with numerous NGOs nationwide, leads the coordination of this historic march — a vivid symbol of Türkiye’s steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom and dignity.

The convoy, joined by thousands from across Türkiye, will culminate in a march from Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara at 18:30, ending at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. Participants aim to demand an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and express unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people. "We will not abandon our Muslim Palestinian brothers and sisters," Vergili vowed. "Until Gaza is liberated, until the resistance triumphs, we will keep the squares filled and amplify their cries to the world, no matter the cost."

The march underscores a growing movement in Türkiye to stand against the oppression in Palestine and to protect the sacred cause of Jerusalem, despite what Vergili described as attacks and smear campaigns by "Zionists and their local collaborators." With their sights set on Ankara, the marchers carry a resolute message: the fight for Gaza’s freedom is a fight for humanity’s dignity.

This collective action sends a clear message to the world: the Palestinian cause is alive in the hearts of millions, and the cries of Gaza will not be silenced. (ILKHA)