Hundreds of thousands of people march in Türkiye in support of the Palestinians.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people in several Turkish cities marched Sunday in support of the Palestinians and an aid flotilla's attempt to reach Gaza.

In the largest demonstration in Istanbul, crowds marched from the iconic Hagia Sophia to the banks of the Golden Horn, where they were greeted by dozens of boats adorned with Turkish and Palestinian flags. Protesters called for Muslim solidarity with Palestinians after midday prayers in front of the former Byzantine cathedral, now a mosque.

The protests were part of others planned Sunday in European cities to commemorate the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. Israeli attacks have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government.

In the Turkish capital, Ankara, protesters raised flags and banners condemning the “genocide” in Gaza.

Meanwhile, people in the western port city of Izmir showed support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces last week while attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza.

On Lake Van in eastern Turkey, fishing boats, canoes, and divers set out with Palestinian flags and banners, cheered on by thousands of people on the lake's shore.

"This oppression, which began in 1948, has continued for two years, turning into genocide," said Recep Karabal of the Palestine Support Platform in the northern city of Kirikkale. Israel emphatically denies committing genocide.

Support for the Palestinians is widespread in Türkiye, where the majority population is Muslim, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a prominent critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza.