Turks in Palestine
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 400,000-500,000 (1987 estimate) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Gaza Strip, Jerusalem | |
| Languages | |
| Turkish, Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Turkish Cypriots, Syrian Turkmens, Turks in Lebanon |
The Turks in Palestine (Turkish: Filistin'deki Türkler), also referred to as Palestinian Turks, Palestinian Turkmen and Palestinian Turkish people (Turkish: Filistin Türkmenleri) are ethnic Turkish descendants who have had a long-established presence in Palestine. With Turkish rule spanning between the years 1069-1917/22, mass Turkish migration was encouraged during the rule of Nureddin Zengi in Syria, and then when thousands of Turks participated in the battle of Jerusalem with Saladin. Turkish migration continued further during the Mamluk and Ottoman rule of Palestine as well as during the British rule.