Angry Turks rally in front of Israel consulate past midnight
A mass demonstration in front of the Israeli consulate in Istanbul lasted until beyond midnight, with many protestors saying that they would not leave the area until they knew the fate of their relatives and friends on the humanitarian ships attacked by Israeli forces.
The number of protestors, around 1,500 people during the day, grew considerably toward sunset and reached more than 10,000 at around 10 pm, closing traffic on Büyükdere Street in front of the Israeli consulate, Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News reported.
Thousands of women and children of all ages were among the protesters, and according to the police at the venue, the number of women protesters rose considerably in the late afternoon.
Several people were carrying placards with various slogans such as “It is enough,” “Do not remain silent,” and “Keeping silent against violence means being a part of it.”
Many said they had gathered to make their voices heard and to show the volunteers on the aid ships as well as people in the Gaza Strip that they are fully supported.
Representatives of the Humanitarian Aid Association, or İHH, said in their speeches that Israeli soldiers attacked with real weapons, calling the incident a crime against humanity. They condemned the Israeli attacks and urged for both national and international authorities not to remain silent but to take measures against Israel instead.
The Turkish government should cancel all bilateral agreements with Israel and dismiss all Israeli diplomatic missions in Turkey, they said.
“Treacherous, sly and cruel Israel attacked cowardly,” the protestors said, adding that nothing could stop their voices from being heard.
The crowds shouted slogans that varied from “Allah is the greatest” to “Cruel Israel, take your hands off the ships,” “Humanitarian aid cannot be restrained,” and “We are all volunteers of humanitarian aid.”
Several groups burned Israeli flags, while others held fireworks with colours of the Palestinian flag.
Müncahit Turan, 42 and resident of Gebze, in the suburbs of Istanbul, came with his wife to protest against the attacks.
“No matter what one’s religion and nationality is, people should not be killed in such a brutal way,” he said, quoted by the newspaper. “I would have protested against Palestine or any other country, had they behaved in the same way. Now I wish the attacks would end and the aid given to the people of Gaza,” he said.
Another protester, who said her name was “Palestine” said Israeli authorities could have talked to the volunteers on the aid ships instead of attacking them.
Mehmet Şimşek, 15, protested alongside his family and said that the attacks were “a shame of humanity.”
“The aid should reach its final destination and be delivered to Gaza people,” said Şimşek, adding that he would on Tuesday go to school, but rally again after classes.
Kadir Durna, a 16-year-old who has to go to school in the morning, said he had come to protest against Israel’s ugly attacks. “We would give our lives, if necessary,” he said.
Earlier in the day, protestors marched to Taksim Square carrying banners reading, “Israel take your hands off our ships of conscience,” “You cannot stop humanitarian aid ships” in Turkish, English and Hebrew.
The most common slogans chanted in Taksim were: “Israel the Murderer: leave the Mediterranean,” “Long live the global uprising,” “The blood of the martyrs will drown Israel,” “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, revenge for revenge.”
Mehmet Kara, the deputy head of Humanitarian Aid Association, (İHH), which has members on the attacked ship, told Hürriyet Daily News that “this is the end of Israel.”
“After today, Israel can hardly explain what it did. I believe that after last night’s attack, all the people Israel killed and all property it seized would turn against it.” Kara confirmed the rumours that İHH volunteer doctors were the first to assist the wounded Israeli soldiers.
Journalist Abdullah Dilipak who addressed the crowd called Israel the “son of Hitler” alongside the “son of pharaoh” and asked Muslims to wake up and resist. Rock singer Haluk Levent sang a song he wrote for Palestine.
Muharrem Öztürk, an unemployed economist, said Palestine was now on everybody’s agenda in the world. “By showing their injustice, Israel is once more seen as the terrorist state it is.”
