Gaza rally on Galata Bridge: Protest against Israeli companies blocked

A Gaza-themed rally was held on Istanbul's Galata Bridge by the "National Will Platform," which is composed of associations and foundations close to the AKP.

At the rally, where Bilal Erdoğan, son of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, spoke in his capacity as a "TÜGVA High Advisory Board Member," protesting Israeli companies was blocked.

A group attempting to enter the rally area with a banner reading "Killer Zim and Killer Maersk, who carry weapons for Zionism, get out of Turkey!" was met with police obstruction.

The group members were subsequently detained.

"IS IT UP TO YOU TO PROTECT ZIM AND MAERSK?"

Hüseyin Kılıç, spokesperson for the Freedom Watch, which is ongoing for the "Conscience Ship"—a vessel planned to carry humanitarian aid to Gaza but prevented from departing by the Ministry of Transport—shared the footage of the detentions and expressed his reaction with the following words:

"Our friends have been detained. Is it up to you to protect the ZIM and Maersk companies!

After being told 'we have infinite respect for your banner,' our friends were detained simply because they wanted to bring a banner into the area.

The true face of your Galata theater has thus been revealed. We do not need fancy, romantic sentences.

Take concrete steps and stop protecting Zionist capital. Release our friends!"