İstanbul, Turkey - October 06, 2024

Thousands of people on Sunday marched in nearly 60 cities across Turkey, including Istanbul and Ankara, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza as the war in the Palestinian territory approached its one-year anniversary.

Demonstrators filled the streets to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, protest against Israel's brutalities in the Middle East, and call on Western countries to cease their support for Israel and work towards a prompt resolution to the ongoing conflict in the region.

In the Fatih District of Istanbul, crowds were seen enlarging, with many people chanting slogans calling for peace.

Since the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on Oct 7 of last year, relations between Turkey and Israel have rapidly deteriorated. In early May, Turkey suspended all trade, both imports and exports, with Israel. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently condemned Israel for exacerbating the conflict throughout the region at any cost, asserting that Turkey will continue to do everything possible to support the Palestinian people.

According to Gaza-based health authorities on Sunday, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 41,870.

Shotlist:
Istanbul, Turkey - Oct 6, 2024:
1. Protesters in square;
2. Various of rally in progress; protesters holding flags of Palestine;
3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Mehmet Kilic, protester:
"The main purpose of our presence here today is to show that we stand with the people of Gaza in the events that began on October 7 (last year).";
4. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Duygu Soylu, protester:
"I want the war to stop; it has been a year now, and we are all very sad.";
5. Various of rally in progress; protesters holding flags of Palestine;
6. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Omer Karabag, protester (ending with shot 7):
"If Israel cuts its cooperation with the U.S., freedom will come to the Middle East, God willing. We want a free Palestine, we want a peaceful world, and we want a world without war.";
7. Various of rally in progress; protesters holding placard (in English): "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", flags of Palestine, chatting slogans.

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