A large crowd has gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, calling for Israel to immediately stop its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The protest rally was organized by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
People filled an airport on Saturday in Turkey’s largest city, waving flags of Turkey and Palestine.
Erdogan condemned Israeli forces for continuing to pound Gaza.
He said what is taking place is a clear, heinous massacre and that Israeli forces are seeking to destroy everyone in Gaza by causing hunger, thirst and collapsing their health services.
One protester said that a crime and genocide is happening in Gaza. She said that children are dying and people do not want to see more deaths.
Another protester said that innocent women and children are at risk in Gaza and the world should not be silent against such oppression.
In London a protest rally was held on Saturday, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a stop to Israel’s military operations against Gaza.
The Metropolitan Police estimate about 100,000 people took part in the rally which was organized by NGOs supporting Palestinian rights and other groups.
Participants waved Palestinian flags and held placards which read “Free Palestine.”
They chanted “Stop bombing Gaza” and “Ceasefire now.”
Protesters whose relatives and friends are in Gaza said that they fear for their safety.
Some protesters said that communications are completely shut down with no internet or telephone connections.
One of the organizers said that the bombing of Gaza continued overnight and that there is no way of communicating with anyone in Gaza.
He added that people in Gaza cannot tell us what is happening there and what Israel is doing in the darkness of night, breaking international law, killing civilians.
Source: NHK
