Civic Mobilisation at Scale

The rally that filled Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on the first morning of 2026 underscored the scale and durability of public mobilisation in Türkiye over the war in Gaza. Organised under the banner “We won't be silent, we won't be quiet, we won't forget Palestine” the demonstration brought together more than 400 civil society organisations and drew an estimated 520,000 participants, according to police announcements at the site. The turnout places the event among the largest single-day pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in Türkiye since the war began.

Participants gathered before dawn at major mosques across the historic peninsula, including Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii, Sultanahmet, Fatih, Süleymaniye and the Yeni Cami in Eminönü. After morning prayers, groups converged on the Galata Bridge, a symbolic artery linking the old city to the commercial districts north of the Golden Horn. By mid-morning, the bridge and its approaches were densely packed, with Turkish and Palestinian flags visible across the span.

“We Won't Be Silenced, We Won't Be Quiet”

Demonstrators marched with banners reading “Justice for Gaza” in both Turkish and English, while chants and religious slogans echoed across the bridge. State broadcaster Al-Ikhbariya and Anadolu Agency footage showed participants wearing keffiyehs and chanting slogans such as “İstanbul’dan Gazze’ye direnişe bin selam.” Boats on the Golden Horn joined the protest, with passengers lighting flares and waving flags from the water below.

Security was visibly reinforced. Police established multiple checkpoints at access points to the bridge and surrounding mosques, while barriers controlled pedestrian flow. Despite winter conditions and low morning temperatures, families attended in large numbers, including children. In one widely circulated moment, a young girl addressed the crowd from a municipal announcement vehicle, prompting a coordinated response from thousands.

Political Presence and Messaging

Senior political figures attended the rally, including Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdülkadir Uraloğlu, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, and Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and several lawmakers and mayors were also present. Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation, addressed journalists during the march.

“We started the new year with prayers for Palestine,” Bilal Erdoğan said, adding that collective prayer on the first morning of the year carried “important spiritual strength.” He continued: “We are praying that 2026 brings good for our nation and for the oppressed Palestinians.” His remarks framed the demonstration as both political expression and religious observance.

Protest as Signal, Not Spike

Speakers from civil society groups emphasised continuity rather than escalation. ÖNDER General President Abdullah Ceylan described the turnout as a “flood of conscience”, arguing that public pressure would persist into the new year.

Logistically, the event was supported by volunteer networks. Aid organisations distributed food and hot drinks, while large screens and sound systems were installed along the bridge to relay speeches. Authorities did not report major incidents.

Taken together, the demonstration illustrated how the Gaza war continues to mobilise broad segments of Turkish society. Rather than a single protest spike, the scale, organisation and political visibility of the Galata Bridge rally point to a sustained civic campaign that blends religious observance, public pressure and symbolic geography in the heart of Istanbul.