TÜRGEV Declared “We March for Freedom” for Gaza

TÜRGEV once again stood shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed people of Palestine, raising its voice for justice and conscience.

On Sunday, 5 October 2025, we took part in the “Great Palestine March” organized in Istanbul against Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Together with our TÜRGEV volunteers and members of the 51N1Kudüs Platform, we marched with our flags in hand and the call of justice in our hearts, declaring, “We March for Freedom.”

On that day, it was not only Istanbul that marched with the same conviction. Ankara, Izmir, Erzurum, and Canakkale also walked with the same faith. Across Türkiye, a single voice echoed:

“Gaza is not alone.”

Freedom for Palestine from Hagia Sophia to Eminönü

Under the shadow of the Hagia Sophia Mosque, we gathered with prayers and chants of takbir. After the noon prayer, as we walked toward Eminonu Square, Turkish and Palestinian flags were in our hands, and the same prayer and supplication were on our lips:

“End the genocide in Gaza.”
“Freedom for Palestine.”
“Lift the blockade.”

At that moment, it was not merely a march but a journey of conscience.

In the hands of our TÜRGEV 51N1Kudüs Platform volunteers were banners reading “The voice of justice will not be silenced” and “Gaza is not alone,” while in our hearts we carried the shared pain of the ummah.

With this march, we once again proclaimed:

The Palestinian people are our brothers and sisters. Gaza is our wound.
We did not remain silent for justice. We march for the oppressed.

The Sumud Fleet and the Journey of Hope

The story of the courageous volunteers who set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Fleet resonated deeply within the conscience of the nation. The return to Türkiye of these heroes, who were detained by Israel and held for three days, was met with tears and prayers in public squares.

A total of 137 activists, including 36 Turkish citizens, were brought back to Türkiye upon the instructions of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They were welcomed with love and gratitude by the public during the march in Istanbul.

That day marked more than a reunion. Justice met courage, and faith met humanity.

As TÜRGEV, we wholeheartedly supported this honorable struggle. Because we believe that sometimes a ship crosses not only the sea but also the silence of humanity.

Voices of Support Rose Across Türkiye

On that day, not only Istanbul but all of Türkiye rose for Gaza with the same heart and the same prayer.

In Ankara, thousands marched in front of the Melike Hatun Mosque chanting “Freedom for Gaza.” With prayers and takbir, the people of the capital sent their greetings to Palestine and became the voice of justice.

In Izmir, the sea took on a new meaning. Fishing boats and civil society organizations organized a Sea of Solidarity event, sailing off the coast of Cumhuriyet Square Izmir with boats adorned with Palestinian flags. The flags waving over the blue waters of the Aegean saluted the brotherhood of a nation.

In Erzurum, it was a day warmed not by the winds but by the breath of conscience. The Stand Up for Gaza march, which began at the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, concluded with prayers at Havuzbasi City Square. Youth, families, and children all cried out with the same emotion:

“We will not be silent until Gaza is free.”

This voice rising from the heart of Anatolia became a hand of brotherhood reaching out to Palestine.

TÜRGEV Standing with the Oppressed Against Oppression

We are the children of this land. Turning our backs on the oppressed has no place in our tradition or our faith. The cries of our brothers and sisters in Palestine are the pain of our own hearts.

In our statement following the march, we expressed the following:

“What is happening in Gaza is a shared test for all humanity. We stand on the side of justice, conscience, and brotherhood. We will continue to stand with the Palestinian people through our prayers, our efforts, and our solidarity.”