Turkish police detained 11 people in two separate incidents over the weekend during pro-Palestine demonstrations in the capital and the country’s largest city, amid continuing public pressure on Ankara to take stronger measures against Israel over its military campaign in Gaza, Turkish Minute reported.
On Saturday five activists from the Rainbow Association and the Palestine March Platform were taken into custody outside the presidential complex in Ankara. The group, comprising three women and two men, had gathered to deliver a letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calling on the government to sever trade and diplomatic ties with Israel and to take more decisive action to end the blockade of Gaza. Police surrounded them shortly after they arrived and escorted them to a nearby station. They were released later that day without formal charges, but rights advocates criticized the detentions as an infringement on the constitutional right to petition.
A day later in İstanbul, journalist and author Adem Özköse and five young activists from the Muştu Gençlik association unfurled a banner reading “Stop the hunger in Gaza” from the top of the historic Galata Tower. The banner was intended to draw attention to widespread food shortages in the enclave, where aid agencies warn that Israel’s months-long blockade and military campaign have left hundreds of thousands facing famine. Police intervened within minutes, citing the lack of a permit for the demonstration under Turkey’s Law No. 2911 on public gatherings. The six were taken into custody and released later in the day.
Both incidents came as pro-Palestine activism in Turkey has intensified, especially in the run-up to and during mass rallies calling for humanitarian access to Gaza. On Saturday thousands in İstanbul marched by the light of lanterns from Beyazıt Square to Hagia Sophia in solidarity with Palestinians. On Sunday tens of thousands from across Turkey converged on Ankara’s Kocatepe Mosque and marched toward parliament to demand the creation of a land, sea and air corridor for aid to Gaza.
Israel’s aggression in Gaza continues to inflict severe humanitarian suffering. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll has surpassed 61,400, and over 153,200 people have been wounded since the war began in October 2023. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns of “starvation, pure and simple,” reporting that 98 children have died of acute malnutrition since July. In the past week alone, at least 38 Palestinians were killed while trying to secure aid, some struck by Israeli warning shots or targeted airstrikes. These fatalities occur amid devastated infrastructure — only 1.5 percent of Gaza’s cropland remains accessible, severely hampering food production.
Meanwhile, scrutiny is mounting over Turkey’s trade relationship with Israel. Despite Ankara’s declared embargo, Israeli data show that Turkish exports to Israel reached $393.7 million between January and May 2025, raising questions about enforcement of the restrictions. In 2024 Turkey ranked as Israel’s fifth-largest exporter with $2.86 billion in exports, according to UN Comtrade data. Debate continues over whether these exports are being routed indirectly or through loopholes.
Turkey’s government maintains that trade ended with the embargo’s imposition in May 2024. The Energy Ministry has denied claims of continued shipments, calling them “completely false” and attributing discrepancies to technical or reporting errors. Critics, however, argue that prevailing commercial ties undercut Turkey’s rhetorical support for Gaza, calling for tangible policy actions rather than symbolic protests.
