The Hanukkah Target
Ambushed in Istanbul: Jewish Community Targeted by Mob During Hanukkah Celebrations
A peaceful walk to a Hanukkah candle lighting turned into a nightmare for seven Jewish residents of Istanbul as an aggressive mob surrounded them, shouting antisemitic slurs and demanding they leave the country.
A Hateful Confrontation
The incident occurred as the group was walking to a local synagogue to light the eighth Hanukkah candle. Video footage circulating on social media shows a mob of demonstrators, some wearing kaffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags, surrounding the Jewish residents. The protesters shouted antisemitic slurs and nationalist rhetoric, with many screaming, “I don’t want Zionists in my country,” and “Zionists, leave this country.”
Witnesses captured the intense atmosphere as a fence separated the aggressive rioters from the Jewish group. One protester was filmed shouting, “People our age are being slaughtered in Gaza and you are celebrating Hanukkah here.” While police presence eventually prevented a full scale physical brawl, unconfirmed reports suggest that several members of the Jewish group may have sustained minor injuries during the chaotic scuffle.
A Climate of Hostility
A representative from the Istanbul Jewish community, which numbers around 15,000 people, stated that the victims were targeted simply because they were Jewish and practicing their faith. This attack is part of a growing wave of antisemitism in Turkey, fueled by the harsh rhetoric of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under his leadership, the Turkish government has moved to restrict trade with Israel and has allowed extreme public displays of hatred, including a recent mock "execution" of the Israeli Prime Minister in the city of Trabzon.
The fear within the Turkish Jewish community mirrors a global rise in anti-Jewish violence. This incident follows a series of high profile attacks, including a stabbing in Brooklyn just four days ago and the recent massacre in Australia where 15 people were murdered by ISIS inspired terrorists during a Hanukkah event. In Greece, the owner of the Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball team was recently physically assaulted and called a "dirty Jew" during a game against Panathinaikos.
Living Under the Shadow of War
The war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza has led to a dramatic spike in harassment toward Jews who have no personal involvement in the military operations. In Turkey, the political climate has made synagogues and Jewish schools constant targets for protests. Despite occasional government efforts to protect religious sites, the constant stream of anti-Israel media coverage continues to boil over into the streets. For the Jews of Istanbul, a simple religious tradition has now become an act of bravery in an increasingly hostile environment.