Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in multiple Turkish cities on Sunday to show solidarity with Palestinians and support the aid flotilla attempting to reach Gaza.

In Istanbul, the largest demonstration saw crowds marching from the Hagia Sophia to the Golden Horn, where dozens of boats flying Turkish and Palestinian flags awaited them. Protesters called for Muslim unity with Palestinians after performing midday prayers at the former Byzantine cathedral, now a mosque.

Demonstrations were also held in European cities to mark the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry under the Hamas government, Israel’s attacks have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians.

In Ankara, protesters waved flags and placards condemning the “genocide” in Gaza. In the western port city of Izmir, demonstrators expressed support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, which Israeli forces intercepted last week while trying to break Gaza’s naval blockade.

In eastern Turkey on Lake Van, fishing boats, canoes, and divers carried Palestinian flags and banners as thousands cheered from the lakeside.

“This oppression, which began in 1948, has been continuing for two years, turning into genocide,” said Recep Karabal of the Palestine Support Platform during a protest in Kirikkale.

Support for Palestinians remains widespread in Muslim-majority Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.