Istanbul: Last night, Istanbul witnessed a mass march to denounce the crimes Israel has been committing against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for 19 months. The demonstration was called by the Palestine Solidarity Platform and departed from the central mosque in Kagithane district and proceeded to the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, where participants performed the Maghrib prayer at the Levent Mosque. They then continued their march, chanting anti-Israel slogans.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Murat Izmir, a representative of the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), read a press release on behalf of the participants in front of the Israeli Consulate, stressing that Israel has seized the homes and lands of thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Izmir noted Israel’s continued attacks on Palestine, Quds, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that the time has come to stand united with the Palestinians who are defending their rights and lands against Israel.

It’s worth noting that since March 2, Israel has closed the Gaza Strip’s crossings to the entry of food, relief, medical aid, and goods, causing a significant deterioration in the humanitarian situation of Palestinians, according to government, human rights, and international reports. Palestinians in Gaza are entirely dependent on this aid after Israel’s ongoing genocide for 19 months has rendered them impoverished, according to World Bank data.