Police intervention in Palestine protest in Istanbul!

Ercan Küçük - 12punto.com.tr

Today, there were protests in 2 different locations in Istanbul in support of Palestine, where Israel is committing genocide. In the second protest of the day, hundreds of police officers intervened against the '1000 Youth for Palestine' group, who were chanting "Stop Trade with Israel," and detained dozens of people.

HARSH INTERVENTION ON ISTIKLAL

The group called 1000 Youth for Palestine wanted to organize a protest in support of Palestine in front of Odakule. The path of the group, which demanded an end to relations with Israel, was blocked by hundreds of police officers on Istiklal Avenue. Dozens of people were detained during the incident. Those detained were forcibly put into police vehicles.

Police intervention against Palestine supporters in Istanbul! https://t.co/QzTZ6p8bcf pic.twitter.com/TKupgocXoF

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) April 6, 2024

FIRST PROTEST IN BEYAZIT

The first protest of the day was held in Beyazıt Square. Those who gathered in Beyazıt at the call of the Platform to End the Occupation in Palestine held a protest by unfurling a banner that read, "Trade with the occupying state of Israel feeds the genocide." The statement, which included the demand "End Complicity in Genocide!", is summarized as follows:

2 million 300 thousand Palestinians living in Gaza have been under military occupation and a total blockade by the Zionist state of Israel for 182 days.

Ships and cargo planes departing from Turkey provide components for weapons, steel for ammunition, military uniforms, and food supplies used by the occupying army that is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Turkish companies produce Israel's electricity and send its cement. The government and its associates lead all this trade. Companies owned by AKP officials or their supporters, which receive the most state subsidies, are at the forefront of commercial relations with Israel. These companies include Zorlu, AkçanSA, Limak, Eren Holding, MNG Air, Kalyonlar, Kalkavanlar, Oyak, Tosçelik, Kardemir, İsdemir, and Erdemir.

As stated on the official website of the occupying state of Israel, the country from which the occupying state has imported the most fruits and vegetables during the genocide attack process that began after October 7 is: Turkey. While the entire Palestinian people, especially children, are starving, tons of fruits and vegetables were exported from Turkey to Israel.

Official institutions try to shift this shame onto "companies" by saying that the trade with the occupying state has nothing to do with public institutions. However, as revealed by documents, state-owned companies continue to transport oil and sell strategic products to the occupying state during the genocide process. The Ministry of National Defense approves the export of defense industry products used by the occupying army.

According to the official data of the Ministry of Trade, 772 million dollars worth of exports were made to the Israeli occupying state just in the January-February 2024 period alone. Today, Turkey is the 4th country from which Israel imports the most.

End all activities that mean logistical, economic, and military support to Israel, the perpetrator of occupation and genocide!

Immediately stop the flow of food products, military raw materials, and energy resources to the perpetrators of the genocide against the Palestinian people!

Do not hide behind the excuse that "we cannot prevent private trade" instead of imposing sanctions and isolation on a state that commits war crimes. The decision not to cut off this relationship is a political choice and will be recorded in history as a document of shame. We call on the entire public, especially political institutions, unions, and democratic mass organizations, to raise their voices against this shame!

News Source: Ercan Küçük