Istanbul  - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Istanbul Sunday to protest Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip.

To the backdrop of large screens broadcasting Al-Jazeera news reports of Israeli ground operations, the protesters in Caglayan Square on the European side of the city shouted "death to Israel" and "we are all Palestinians".

"We are here to share our feelings with the Palestinians", a young man at the rally told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry meanwhile called on Israel immediately to halt operations.

"Once again we call on Israel to put an end to its military actions before the region becomes more precarious," the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

"It is evident that raising tensions will not serve efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region. Attempts to find a solution to the problem through military methods will not yield any results except for causing more bloodshed and more tears," the statement said.

Meanwhile, police stepped up security near prominent synagogues in Istanbul Sunday and erected metal barriers around the house of Turkey's chief rabbi.

There were also small protests in Ankara Sunday outside the Israeli embassy. (dpa)