Thousands of people gathered in Istanbul on New Year's Day to rally in support of Gaza, waving Palestinian and Turkish flags and demanding an end to the ongoing violence in the region. The march, which drew an estimated 500,000 participants, included speeches and a musical performance, and was organized by over 400 civil society groups. Among the organizers was Bilal Erdogan, the youngest son of the Turkish president, who called for peace and expressed hopes for a better future for Palestinians. Despite a recent ceasefire brokered with Turkish involvement, violence in Gaza has continued, with hundreds of Palestinians killed since the agreement.