At a rally in Istanbul Airport in support of Palestine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan restated his view that Gaza’s history has deep roots in Ottoman rule and stressed that Turks should move beyond mere condemnation to take more concrete action. Reuters notes the gathering reflected a strong public mood surrounding the issue and highlighted the president’s call for greater regional accountability.
Erdoğan challenged Western audiences with a pointed question, asking if they truly want to rekindle a long-standing confrontation between civilizations rather than seek a peaceful path forward. He framed the moment as a test of alliances and a reminder of the fragility of regional stability, underscoring the seriousness with which he views the current crisis.
According to Erdoğan, the Istanbul rally drew an estimated 1.5 million participants, signaling broad mobilization and engagement across segments of Turkish society. The demonstrations were organized to express solidarity with Palestinians amid intensified violence and a perceived failure of international mediation, as reported by Reuters.
The mass gathering took place at Atatürk Airport and framed the Gaza events as a massacre to which Western powers bore responsibility. Erdoğan labeled Israel as an aggressor and invading force, and he asserted that the Palestinian movement Hamas does not meet the criteria of a terrorist organization in his assessment, a stance that aligned with his broader regional narrative. The remarks reflected a broader effort to position Ankara as a leading voice for Palestinian rights on the world stage.
In a separate address to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on October 25, Erdoğan noted that his planned visit to Israel had been canceled amid rising tensions in Gaza, a decision that underscored the heightened diplomatic strain in the region. The move was framed as a necessary response to intensifying hostilities and as part of Turkey’s continued advocacy for a hardened international stance toward actions perceived as violations against civilians.
Earlier, a political analyst cited in discussions surrounding the conflict identified several factors believed to contribute to flare-ups between Palestinians and Israelis. The analyst pointed to a mix of historical grievances, competing narratives, and the involvement of regional and global powers as key drivers that complicate efforts toward a durable peace. The assessment underscored how public opinion, political rhetoric, and international diplomacy intersect in shaping the trajectory of the ongoing crisis.