Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Istanbul to condemn the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Iran on July 31.
Haniya was buried on August 2 in Qatar. Israel, blamed by Hamas, Iran and other countries for the murder, has not commented on the attack, AFP reported.
Gathered at the call of several conservative and pro-government associations, the demonstrators waved Turkish and Palestinian flags as well as portraits of Chania in front of the former Byzantine Hagia Sophia basilica.
"Israel killed an important hero in a treacherous way," said Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
"Hania called on millions of people to protest for Gaza. We respect his last wish," Bilal added.
On July 31, the Turkish president condemned the "treacherous murder" of his "brother" Hania, which he said was a work of "Zionist barbarism."
Haniya, who was a frequent resident of Turkey before the Gaza war, was last received in Istanbul in April by Erdogan. | BGNES
