The bombing of Gaza’s Al Ahli Baptist Hospital on Tuesday evening (October 17), which resulted in the death of some 471, has sparked mass protests, including across Turkey. On Wednesday evening, following invitations from various political parties, associations, and NGOs, protesters representing both Islamist and leftist groups descended on Israel’s Istanbul Consulate in separate but side-by-side demonstrations to voice support for the Palestinian cause. In the later hours of the evening, some Islamist protesters burnt the Israeli flag and threw flammable, explosive material towards the consulate building.
Leftists protesters had shown up to the scene following the invitation of organizations such as Turkish Workers Party (TIP), Labor Party (EMEP), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), Confederation of Public Laborers Union (KESK), Union of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), and Turkish Medical Association (TTB). Islamist protesters, meanwhile, had also appeared following the invitation of various organizations, whose members also included Arab individuals from countries such as Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.
Although the groups appeared side-by-side, the slogans shouted illustrated their differences. Leftist groups both condemned the massacre and criticized Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for alleged complicity with Israel by chanting slogans such as “Murderer Israel, collaborator AKP” and “Hospitals are sacred, they cannot be made targets.” Islamic groups, meanwhile, shouted slogans such as: “Greetings to Hamas, continue the resistance”, “Zionist Israel”, “War, jihad, martyrdom”, “Israel, do not be surprised, do not lose test our patience”, “Hit Hamas, hit Tel Aviv”, “Turkish soldiers to Gaza”.
Police form wall between the two groups
Islamic groups had arrived at the consulate first, while the leftist groups had congregated a short distance from the consulate building, where they chanted slogans and waited for the Islamic protesters to leave the front of the building in order to make a statement on the issue. Meanwhile, the police took precautions against possible tension between the two groups. The Islamic group also formed a wall behind the police, standing arm-in-arm in order to prevent a possible attempt by leftists to break into the group.
Islamic groups dispersed after chanting slogans and displaying banners. As the Islamic group left the area, several leftists said to them, “Collaborators, don’t forget the 6th Fleet.” The left-wing group proceeded to demonstrate against Israel’s attack on Gaza while shouting the slogan “Murderer Israel, collaborator AKP”. After making a statement, the leftist group also dispersed.
The ‘6th Fleet’ quip references a series of incidents in the 1960s in İstanbul in which anti-imperialist groups protested the visit of American soldiers to the city’s central Beyoğlu district. Throughout the demonstrations, uniforms belonging to US soldiers were defaced by the protesters, and several soldiers were tossed into the Bosphorus Strait. The protests were seen as an uprising against the US’s actions in Vietnam, support for Israel, and Turkey’s role as a US ally. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has come under criticism of late for Turkey’s warming relations with Israel, seen by many Turkish leftists as an embrace of an international order based on so-called US imperialism.
In the statement of DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB said, “The massacres experienced in Palestine are not only an issue for the Palestinian people. The source of the issue is imperialist sharing and interests. This is called Israel in the Middle East, and the USA, NATO, etc. in other areas. Even if the actors change, oppressed people and workers continue to be the victims.”
After the leftist group dispersed from the area, the Islamic group returned to the front of the consulate building.
Israeli flag burned
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
The Islamist protest group then returned to the consulate building. Torches were lit, the Israeli flag was burned, and fireworks were thrown towards the consulate building. Calling Muslims to jihad, the group shouted slogans such as “Greetings to Hamas, continue the resistance” and “Tooth for tooth, blood for blood”. As the hours passed, the crowd in front of the consulate building grew. After several members of the crowd threw flammable, explosive materials towards the consulate building, the police warned them with an announcement.
A Palestinian citizen speaking to Medyascope, said that they had come to the protest to defend Gaza. Stating that the goal is to take back their homeland, the protester stated that he may never be able to go to Gaza, saying, “The invaders occupied our lands. Our homes were destroyed.”
Another protester from Syria spoke of the war in his hometown, and said that he came to the protest to prevent similar situations from happening to Palestinians. Called on Arab countries to defend Gaza, he told Medyascope reporters “Come to your senses, Palestine is disappearing. Israel will destroy us.”
A protester of Lebanese origin who has been living in Turkey for 30 years said that the world’s silence regarding the recent hospital bombing in Gaza was unacceptable.
Written by Edanur Tanış, Translated by Leo Kendirck
