TBA News

While the world celebrates New Year, thousands of protesters in Istanbul took to the streets to protest for Palestine demanding to shake humanity awake, to put an end to the genocide in Gaza and to end the western support to the ongoing massacres in Palestine.

Thousands are currently marching from the historic peninsula mosques after morning prayers to converge at the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn, to protest.

The National Will Platform, comprising 308 non-governmental organizations, among which the Türkiye Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) are protesting under the theme of stopping the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

According to a statement from the governor’s office in Istanbul, roads are closed from 11 p.m. on Dec. 31 until the end of the demonstration.

Two days ago, the US consulate in Istanbul issued alerts calling on its citizens to exercise increased caution.

“Demonstration Alert – U.S. Consulate Istanbul, Türkiye (Release Date: December 30, 2024) 30, 2024

Location: Istanbul, Türkiye

Event:  On January 1, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., a large, organized, pro-Palestinian demonstration involving thousands of participants is scheduled to take place at Galata Bridge in Istanbul.  Beginning as early as 6:30 a.m., thousands of participants are expected to march from Süleymaniye, Sultanahmet, and Fatih to the site of the demonstration.  U.S. citizens should take this into account if planning to visit these areas.  Large gatherings may result in enhanced police presence, road closures, and traffic disruptions. Any gathering, even those intended to be peaceful, could escalate and turn violent.”