Massive Pro-Palestine March Floods Istanbul on New Year's Day

A huge protest calling for an end to the violence in Gaza drew hundreds of thousands of people to central Istanbul on Monday. Organizers say about 520,000 demonstrators joined the march. They gathered after morning prayers and walked across the historic Galata Bridge. The protest was supported by a wide coalition. Turkish civil society groups, artists, and sports figures all helped to mobilize people. The event highlighted strong public demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. It was one of the largest single demonstrations in Turkey related to the conflict. New Year's Day, a public holiday, allowed for the large turnout. The march remained peaceful.