Istanbul Stands in Solidarity: 500 Pairs of Children’s Shoes Memorialize Gaza’s Young Victims

In a poignant display of solidarity and protest, nearly 500 pairs of children’s shoes were carefully arranged in front of the Fountain of Ahmed III in Istanbul, Türkiye, on November 21. The solemn installation, organized by the Palestine Initiative under the banner of “Walk for Palestinian Children,” aimed to draw attention to the devastating toll of Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

The shoes, symbolizing the young lives lost, were accompanied by photographs of some of the children who fell victim to Israel’s relentless onslaughts on the besieged enclave. A stark banner declared, “Israel kills five children every hour,” serving as a stark reminder of the urgency of addressing the ongoing crisis.

Tulay Gokcimen, spokesperson for the Palestine Initiative, explained the strategic placement of the display along a popular walking path: “This is a walking path, as you can see; we made a walking path out of shoes. At the end of the path, we say: ‘The lives of Gazan children were only enough to walk this path because Israel massacred them. From now on, you must walk the rest of the path for them.’”

The symbolic act was designed to confront passersby on their way to work or school, compelling them to reflect on the human cost of the conflict. It sought to turn attention towards the plight of Palestinian children, whose lives were tragically cut short amid the ongoing war.

The display comes at a critical juncture, as Israel’s military campaign on Palestinians in blockaded Gaza enters its 46th day. The staggering toll has reached over 13,300 Palestinians killed since October 7, with a heartbreaking 5,600 of them being children.

The international community has been urged to take notice of the mounting humanitarian crisis and to work towards a peaceful resolution to end the cycle of violence. The Istanbul installation serves as a powerful call to action, emphasizing the need for global solidarity and collective efforts to address the root causes of the conflict, protect innocent lives, and pave the way for a just and lasting peace in the region.

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