Demonstrators gathered in several Turkish cities on Friday to protest a move by Israel’s parliament to introduce the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, with rallies taking place after Friday prayers and drawing participation from civil society groups, students and local residents.

In the capital, protesters assembled at the courtyard of the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque following Friday prayers in an event organized by the Palestine Support Platform. Participants condemned the proposed legislation and voiced opposition to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

Speaking on behalf of the platform, board member Muhammed Cihad Çiğdem described the measure as “a clear violation of law” and denounced what he called Israel’s actions in the region. He said the decision to legalize executions for Palestinian detainees amounted to “brutality” and urged greater international awareness and response.

Similar demonstrations were held in other parts of the country, including Zonguldak, Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Niğde, Izmir and Konya. In each location, protesters carried banners and chanted slogans criticizing Israel’s policies and calling for an end to violence in Gaza and across the region.

In the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, students and representatives of nongovernmental organizations gathered at the campus of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, where a statement was read condemning what organizers described as escalating aggression. Speaking for the group, Selman Kürklü from the Palestine Support Platform said the violence had extended beyond Palestinian territories, warning of broader regional instability.

In southeastern Diyarbakır, demonstrators convened outside the Ulu Mosque, chanting slogans and calling for international intervention.

In Niğde, a gathering outside a university mosque drew support from local officials and academics, including the city’s mayor and university representatives. Speakers there emphasized the humanitarian impact of ongoing hostilities and criticized what they described as insufficient global response.

Protests in Izmir’s Konak Square and in Konya after Friday prayers echoed similar concerns, with participants condemning both the reported legislation and Israel’s broader military actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

The demonstrations came amid continued regional tensions following Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, and ongoing exchanges involving Iran and other regional actors. Protest organizers across Türkiye called for increased international pressure to halt violence and prevent further escalation.

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The number of Syrians under Türkiye’s temporary protection regime has fallen by nearly 40% over the past five years, dropping from about 3.7 million in 2021 to roughly 2.3 million in 2026, according to official data compiled from migration figures.

The decline of about 1.4 million people reflects a steady reduction in Türkiye’s Syrian refugee population since it peaked in 2021, when arrivals from the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, reached their highest levels.

Türkiye, which once hosted the world’s largest Syrian refugee community, has seen a gradual decrease in recent years driven largely by voluntary returns and changing conditions in its southern neighbor.

The population fell to about 3.5 million in 2022, 3.2 million in 2023 and 2.9 million in 2024. It stood at roughly 2.35 million at the end of 2025 before declining further in early 2026.

Officials attribute the downward trend primarily to what they describe as voluntary, safe and dignified returns, supported by stabilization efforts in northern Syria and policies aimed at encouraging repatriation.

Türkiye has hosted Syrians fleeing the war under a temporary protection system that allows legal residence and access to essential services without formal refugee status under the 1951 Refugee Convention framework. Authorities say the policy has been implemented in line with humanitarian principles alongside border security measures.

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said Türkiye’s approach is being carried out “within the framework of humanitarian values and international law,” adding that return policies are implemented in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s directives.

“In line with the instructions of our President, we are carefully and resolutely taking steps that will contribute to our Syrian brothers and sisters living in peace and security in their own lands,” Çiftçi said in remarks to Anadolu Agency (AA).

He added that Türkiye supports broader reconstruction efforts inside Syria. “We support the ongoing efforts for revival, reconstruction, and normalization of life,” he said, noting that such developments help enable what he described as a more orderly return process.

Changing conditions in Syria

Government statements highlight infrastructure projects, humanitarian assistance and housing construction across the Syrian border as key elements enabling returns. These efforts, officials say, have helped support resettlement in areas cleared of armed groups and improve living conditions inside Syria.

According to official figures, about 1.39 million Syrians have returned from Türkiye to Syria between 2016 and April 2026. Of those, more than 650,000 returned between December 2024 and April 2026, following the collapse of Syria’s long-ruling Baath regime in December 2024.

Officials describe the return process as coordinated and carefully managed. Çiftçi said the government’s priority is ensuring that returns are conducted in an orderly manner, adding that authorities are working “with an understanding that centers human dignity.”

Interior officials say returns are managed through coordination between security agencies and administrative bodies to ensure updated records and controlled border crossings.

Demographics

The Syrian population under temporary protection in Türkiye remains broadly split between genders, with about 1.18 million men and 1.11 million women. The largest age group is adults aged 18 to 64, totaling about 1.17 million people.

Regionally, Istanbul hosts the largest Syrian population with about 405,000 registered individuals, followed by Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa. The smallest registered population is in Hakkari, with just eight Syrians. Tunceli and Bayburt are also among the provinces with the lowest numbers.

Policy shifts, future outlook

Authorities have recently adjusted policies affecting Syrians under temporary protection, including ending eligibility for free health care coverage for new cases as of Jan. 1. Officials say the changes are part of broader planning related to long-term migration management and return strategies.

Turkish officials have also indicated that the temporary protection system may gradually transition toward a residence permit-based framework. Under such a system, Syrians would be required to meet conditions such as housing arrangements, employment status, financial means and health insurance coverage.

Government representatives note that similar policy transitions have taken place in parts of Europe, while emphasizing that Türkiye’s approach has been more gradual due to the scale of its Syrian population.

Authorities have also signaled that financial incentives for returnees may be expanded, including support linked to international funding mechanisms.

Despite the sustained decline, Türkiye continues to host one of the largest Syrian communities in the world. The Syrian war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions since 2011, forced about 5 million people into neighboring countries, with Türkiye receiving the largest share.

Officials say further returns are expected in the coming period as conditions inside Syria evolve and reconstruction efforts continue, while stressing that participation in return programs remains voluntary.

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Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry called on the international community to act against Israel’s approval of 34 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as a “serious violation” of international law and U.N. resolutions.

In a written statement, the ministry condemned the decision by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to authorize new settlement construction, warning that it undermines prospects for a two-state solution.

The statement said Israel’s actions further entrench occupation policies and weaken efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Reiterating Ankara’s position, the ministry stressed that the expansion of settlements runs counter to international law and damages the foundations of a viable peace process.

Türkiye also urged the international community to take concrete steps in response to what it described as unlawful initiatives.

Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its military campaign in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. Palestinians view the escalation – including killings, arrests, displacement, and settlement expansion – as a step toward formal annexation of the territory.

In a landmark opinion in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the need to protect the cease-fire process from disruption and maximize upcoming negotiations for lasting peace during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a call with his Iranian counterpart, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s active diplomatic role in helping pave the way for the cease-fire, noting that Ankara worked closely with relevant countries throughout the process.

He emphasized that the upcoming negotiations present a critical opportunity to achieve permanent peace and stability, warning that efforts to undermine the process must not be allowed to succeed.

Erdoğan also reiterated that Türkiye stands ready to continue contributing to the process alongside friendly nations, underlining Ankara’s commitment to regional stability and dialogue.

Expressing condolences for the losses suffered by the Iranian people, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s broader goal is to help establish a new climate of common sense and dialogue across the region.

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A panel in the Turkish capital concluded that NATO remains a resilient and adaptive alliance despite mounting global challenges, emphasizing its capacity to evolve in response to a rapidly transforming security environment, even as the alliance traverses one of its rockiest periods in decades, marked by internal divisions, geopolitical conflicts and debates over its future role.

The panel, titled “NATO and the Changing Security Environment,” was held in Ankara in cooperation with the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA). It brought together international experts to assess the alliance’s trajectory amid mounting global uncertainty.

Moderated by professor Murat Yeşiltaş of Ankara Social Sciences University, the panel featured Akif Çağatay Kılıç, chief advisor to the president on foreign policy and security; Italian scholar Valeria Giannotta; Patrice Moyeuvre from the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS); and specialist Yavuz Türkgenci.

Türkgenci said NATO has faced challenges for more than 70 years and “has somehow solved its problems,” stressing that its evolution can be understood through its strategic concepts. “NATO always tries to overcome problems by creating concepts related to changing issues,” he said, adding the alliance is once again “facing the same problems” in a new global context.

The remarks come as NATO grapples with a sharp deterioration between Washington and its European allies in recent months, including tensions over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, disagreements among allies on burden-sharing and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to leave the alliance. Analysts have argued the alliance is facing a “crisis point,” with U.S. criticism and European hesitation exposing fractures in trans-Atlantic unity.

Referring to NATO’s latest strategy following the Russia-Ukraine war, Türkgenci described it as “actually a reaction to the war,” suggesting “there may be a new supplement or document published in Ankara” as the alliance adapts further.

Giannotta argued the current environment reflects bigger structural change. “I think there is a transformation, rather than a temporary crisis,” he said, pointing to a “multipolar system” and rising conflicts. “There are areas where violence is escalating, presenting certain challenges to NATO,” he added, while highlighting the “very important central role of the U.S.”

Recent developments appear to support this assessment. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO as “very disappointing” and even raised the possibility of withdrawing, while European allies debate greater strategic autonomy and defense responsibilities.

At the same time, NATO has sought to adapt through increased defense spending and new initiatives, including efforts to strengthen its presence in strategic regions such as the Arctic and to boost military capabilities across Europe.

Moyeuvre recalled that NATO’s future was once in doubt after the Cold War. “NATO did not disintegrate,” he said, attributing this to political trust among member states.

“It’s very easy to dismantle something, but very difficult to build it, especially if we’re talking about something that works,” he said, adding that NATO remains “the only organization” capable of coordinating multinational missions. “This is something no other organization can do.”

“NATO continues to be an extremely reliable and stable organization,” he said, reinforcing the panel’s central conclusion that despite mounting pressures, the alliance retains its core strength as a unifying security framework.

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Turkish authorities on Friday intensified a series of corruption investigations into municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), with dozens detained in coordinated operations across several cities, according to official sources.

The latest operations focused on the Yenişehir Municipality in the southern province of Mersin and the Bolu Municipality in northwestern Türkiye, as part of broader probes into alleged corruption, bribery and embezzlement.

Police carried out an early morning raid on Yenişehir Municipality, searching municipal offices and detaining around 30 individuals, including deputy mayors, department heads and company representatives linked to municipal tenders. Authorities said the investigation centers on alleged irregularities in procurement processes and misuse of public funds.

The Yenişehir operation is the latest in a growing number of corruption-related cases involving CHP-run municipalities. Over the past two years, more than 20 mayors and numerous municipal officials have been detained or arrested on similar charges.

While CHP officials have argued that the investigations are politically motivated, government representatives have rejected those claims, saying the judiciary operates independently and that cases are based on evidence.

Donation scheme in Bolu

Also on Friday, authorities detained two more people, including Deputy Mayor Leyla Beykoz, as part of an ongoing corruption probe into allegations of extortion, misuse of donation funds, and administrative abuse in the municipality and municipal-linked institutions, like a charity firm.

The Bolu case gained prominence last month when Mayor Tanju Özcan was arrested and later suspended from duty by the Interior Ministry. He is accused of seeking or obtaining unfair advantages from local businesses, including chain supermarkets operating in the province.

Prosecutors are also examining allegations involving a municipal-affiliated foundation that collected approximately TL 884,000 ($19,700) in donations during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha under a campaign presented as for distributing sacrificial animals.

According to investigation files, inspectors found no records showing the purchase or distribution of sacrificial animals. Financial documentation reportedly contained no evidence of livestock procurement or slaughter activity linked to the campaign.

Üsküdar probe

In a separate case in Istanbul, at least 20 suspects, including the deputy mayor of Üsküdar, were sent to court on Friday following their detention on Tuesday in a corruption investigation.

The probe centers on allegations of bribery and irregularities in building and occupancy permits issued by the municipality, which the CHP won in 2024 for the first time in more than two decades. Among those detained were Deputy Mayor Filiz Deveci, municipal bureaucrats and executives of the municipality’s subsidiary Kent A.Ş.

According to a statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Kent A.Ş. officials allegedly operated as an informal structure within the municipal permit system, channeling what prosecutors described as “illegal revenues” from contractors seeking approvals.

Investigators allege that the suspects participated in decisions on whether permits were approved or rejected despite lacking formal authority. They also claim the group maintained a secret database in which contractors were assigned color codes used to determine how much they would be required to pay.

Prosecutors further allege that suspects coordinated in meetings where payment amounts were set in exchange for permit approvals.

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