What it is about
Thousands of protesters gathered in central Istanbul to demonstrate against the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a key figure in the Palestinian terror group Hamas. The protest followed Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran, Iran.
Why it matters
Haniyeh’s death has incited strong anti-Israel sentiment, with many calling for revenge. The incident underscores the volatile nature of the conflict and its potential to spill over into a broader Middle East confrontation.
Protest details
The demonstrators carried posters of Haniyeh and banners proclaiming their solidarity with Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause. Chants of “murderer Israel, get out of Palestine” rang through the Fatih district, as protesters waved Turkish and Palestinian flags.
Tensions escalate
Statements from the crowd included calls for international powers to intervene against what they called massacres by Israel. This rhetoric highlights the deeply emotional ties and nationalistic fervor surrounding the Palestinian cause among Turkish citizens.
Reaction from Turkish leadership
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the assassination, labeling it an act of “Zionist barbarity.” Erdogan’s comments appear to be an attempt to galvanize public sentiment in support of the Palestinian cause.
Context and implications
Hamas leaders have had close ties with Turkey for years. Ismail Haniyeh’s presence in Turkey and frequent interactions with Erdogan emphasize this connection. Despite globally recognized Hamas’s designation as a terror organization by the EU, the US, and NATO allies, Erdogan described the group as a “liberation movement.”
Historical ties
The assassination comes amidst a tense period of Turkish-Israeli relations, compounded by historical acts like the 2011 prisoner exchange deal that Turkey facilitated for the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in return for more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners, including top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.