Protesters in the Turkish cities of Eskişehir and İstanbul criticised the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Saturday, accusing it of enabling Israel’s military operations in Gaza while presenting itself as a supporter of the Palestinian cause.
In Eskişehir, the local “Solidarity Platform with Palestine” held a demonstration outside a shopping mall to denounce what it described as Turkey’s role in fuelling Israeli airstrikes. Protest organisers displayed banners reading “Azerbaijan sells, Turkey transports—oil goes, genocide continues” and called for an immediate halt to all shipments to Israel.
Speaking at the protest, platform spokesperson İbrahim Haydar Büyükeren claimed that fuel used in air raids that killed Palestinian children was supplied via Turkey. He alleged that Turkish state-run companies under the Turkish Wealth Fund, including BOTAŞ—the national pipeline operator—were profiting from the trade.
“It would have been enough to shut the valve,” said Büyükeren, referring to oil exports, “but this was never done for 18 months.” He criticised Turkish lawmakers who reportedly celebrated revenue earned from this trade, calling it “complicity in genocide”.
Büyükeren also condemned what he described as the government’s “crocodile tears” for Palestine, accusing officials of using the issue for political gain while maintaining economic ties with Israel.
In a separate development the same day, police in İstanbul blocked a planned protest march organised by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Authorities closed roads and metro stations near Taksim Square hours before the rally, citing security concerns. Protesters carrying banners that read “No to genocide, massacre and displacement in Gaza” gathered at Tünel Square and attempted to march to Taksim, chanting slogans against both the AKP and Israel.
CHP İstanbul provincial chair Özgür Çelik said the march would go ahead despite the restrictions. “Millions are being denied their right to public transportation just to stop a peaceful protest,” he said in a post on social media platform X.
Tensions escalated when police formed barricades and prevented the crowd from advancing. Officers used tear gas and batons during confrontations with protesters, which included university students.
“The authorities allow marches for selected foundations and groups, but deny that right to us,” Çelik told police at the scene, referencing organisations close to the government. “Enough is enough. They’ve killed 50,000 people in Gaza and now they send the police against us.”
The CHP said it would file a legal complaint against officials who authorised the police intervention. Party members later staged a sit-in protest in the area.
Since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza on 7 October 2023, Turkish opposition parties and civil society groups have frequently accused the government of contradicting its pro-Palestinian rhetoric by continuing trade and energy cooperation with Israel.
