Pro-Palestinian Protest in Istanbul Over Hamas Leader's Assassination

Thousands gathered in Istanbul protesting the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Demonstrators displayed posters and banners while chanting anti-Israel slogans. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's government did not claim responsibility for the attack. Turkish President Erdogan condemned the killing, asserting it won’t break Palestinians' will.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central Istanbul on Wednesday night, voicing their outrage over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Tehran, sparking threats of retaliation against Israel and raising fears of a wider Middle East conflict.

Demonstrators carried posters of Haniyeh and banners with messages such as, "Martyr Haniyeh, Jerusalem is our cause and your path is our path." The crowd chanted slogans like "murderer Israel, get out of Palestine," and "thousands of greetings from Istanbul to the resistance in Gaza," while waving Turkish and Palestinian flags during the march in Istanbul's Fatih district.

While Israel is widely suspected of carrying out the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has neither confirmed nor commented on the killing. Haniyeh, usually based in Qatar, was a prominent figure in Hamas's international diplomacy efforts. He had been involved in indirect ceasefire talks for the Palestinian enclave, following the ongoing conflict triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the assassination, stating it would not deter the Palestinians.

(With inputs from agencies.)