Thousands participate in torch-lit march in Van to condemn Gaza genocide

The march, led by the Van Support for Palestine Platform, protested the ongoing attacks by the Zionist regime against Palestine. The ‘Don't Forget Gaza’ themed march began in front of Kent Park, with participants carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanting slogans as they marched from Maraş Street to Kent Square.

Upon reaching Kent Square, the Holy Quran was read, and prayers were offered for those who lost their lives. The event included a dabke performance by the Virtuous Generation Youth Club, followed by a statement delivered by Hayati Beyde on behalf of the platform.

Reminding the audience that genocide has been ongoing in Gaza for 225 days, resulting in nearly 40,000 martyrs, Beyde said: "Zionist violence repeats itself and contains the most painful scenes of our witnessing of the age; it commits the crime of genocide in Gaza without distinguishing between women, children, elderly, and civilians. This occupation and genocide make the hearts of conscientious people bleed, and it threatens the peace of the whole world, especially our region and the Middle East. The resistance in Gaza has shown us what great power faith is. We are once again witnessing what a great honor it is to be a servant only to Allah in the face of the modern slavery offered to us by the West. Since 1948, I salute the Palestinian people, whose lands have been occupied, who advise each other to be patient and adopt jihad as a motto, who refuse to surrender, who martyr, who are taken prisoner, whose houses are bombed, who are subjected to the most despicable tortures, and the heroic Hamas, which emerged from the sons of that people. Despite the world governments, some of whom are Muslims, who are supposedly competing to be the servants of Zionism, we salute the sensitive students and peoples of America and Europe, especially Columbia University, New York University, and Yale University, who are our brothers and sisters in conscience and humanity, who do not remain silent despite all the oppression. We regretfully condemn Özgür Özel and Ekrem İmamoğlu, who called the Izeddin al-Qassam brigades (Hamas), the legitimate armed force of the Hamas movement, which are the sons of the people of Gaza and are under elected administration, terrorists in a Zionist language, revealing their ignorance beyond mental eclipse."

Emphasizing the honorable stance despite the massacre and genocide, Beyde said: "The cause of Jerusalem is a cause above all ideologies for us Muslims. And everyone who shoulders this cause is worthy of respect. In this context, I salute our president and interior minister, who support Hamas, Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Gaza on every platform. While the people of Gaza are struggling for existence to save the honor of the world, we have been in the squares for more than seven months to support this resistance. We declare to the whole world that our brothers are not alone with our prayers, slogans, declarations, and prayers. There is a massacre in Gaza, but at the same time there is an honorable resistance. We will not lose hope. It is an indisputable fact that the Aqsa Flood destroyed Israel's army and intelligence, known as invincible. All the powers of the world came together, but they could not defeat a handful of faithful braves who define themselves as Kassam Brigades, and they cannot defeat them."

Saying that Muslims should not remain silent for salvation, Beyde concluded his remarks as follows: "Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza cannot reach sufficient food and water. Yes, unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people are facing the danger of death due to hunger and thirst in front of the eyes of the world in the 21st century. In order to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the city's energy and clean water needs must be met urgently. The prevention of the entry of fuel, which is needed in many areas of life, especially in surviving health centers, to Gaza is a major obstacle to meeting many humanitarian needs as well as treatment services. In the final analysis, we expect the states, rulers, and peoples of the world with a conscience to take action to stop the Rafah operation launched by the Zionist regime and to ensure that the Zionist occupiers leave Gaza. All Islamic countries and peoples must come together, show their reaction, and put an end to the genocide. As the Palestinian mujahid Galip Bergusi said, everyone may not be able to do everything, but there is always something that everyone can do better. 'The Islamic Ummah cannot be freed from the colonization of the enemies like this... Let us do whatever we can. Let those who hold a pen write about this cause. Those who are strong in oratory should speak about this cause. Everyone should do something; but let us not remain silent! Because silence kills.'"

The event ended with a prayer for Gazans. (ILKHA)