Türkiye Sports Community Rallies in Istanbul for Palestine Solidarity

English , Middle East - مشرق وسطٰی , Snippets , / Thursday, January 1st, 2026

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Members of Türkiye’s sports community gathered on Istanbul’s historic Galata Bridge to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and to call for an immediate end to the ongoing violence in Gaza and the occupied territories.
The rally was organized by the Alliance of Humanity and the National Will Platform under the slogan, “We won’t cower, we won’t keep quiet, we won’t forget Palestine.” Led by the Türkiye Youth Foundation (TUGVA), the event brought together athletes, sports administrators, federation officials, and representatives of major football clubs.
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak attended alongside senior sports figures, including Turkish Wrestling Federation President Taha Akgul, Turkish Karate Federation President Ercument Tasdemir, Besiktas President Serdal Adali, Fenerbahce board members, Galatasaray Sportif AS Deputy Chairman Abdullah Kavukcu, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk, and national wrestler Riza Kayaalp.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Bak said Türkiye has consistently stood with oppressed peoples, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly raised the situation in Gaza at international forums. He praised the strong public response and the participation of youth, athletes, and sports clubs.
Taha Akgul termed the rally a moral responsibility, while Tasdemir emphasized that sport represents values beyond competition. Participants said the gathering reflected shared pain and unity, with rival club representatives standing together to demand justice and peace for Palestine.