Mass rally to support Palestinians begins in Istanbul

By Halil Demir

ISTANBUL

Thousands gathered in Istanbul's Yenikapi fairgrounds on Friday in solidarity with Palestinians after Israeli aggression against civilians on Gaza border

The rally was launched under the theme of "Condemning Oppression, Supporting al-Quds [Jerusalem]."

A number of huge screen televisions were also set-up across the gathering are for the crowd to watch the platform where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and many other leaders from the world attended.

Turkey and Palestine flags were distributed to the crowd.

On Monday, at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred and hundreds more injured by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the border.

Monday’s demonstration had coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary -- an event Palestinians refer to as “the Catastrophe” -- and the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem.

Since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli army gunfire.

Last week, the Israeli government claimed the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law does not apply.