Antisemitic attack in Turkey targets Jews on way to Hanukkah event: 'I don’t want Zionists in my country'

An antisemitic incident occurred this Sunday evening in Istanbul, Turkey, when pro-Palestinian demonstrators attacked Jews on their way to a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony at a synagogue in the city, according to footage shared on social media.

In the video, a Turkish crowd is seen gathering around the group as it makes its way to the event, waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans such as “I don’t want Zionists in my country,” along with other antisemitic chants.

Police forces prevented the crowd from coming into direct contact with the Jewish group.

The incident adds to a series of antisemitic events that have taken place recently.

Four days ago, a Jewish man was stabbed in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn by an assailant who shouted antisemitic slurs.

Two days ago, during a basketball game between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos in Greece, Hapoel club owner Ofer Yannay was pushed onto the court by a fan of the Greek team who was sitting on the floor near the court.

The fan also shouted “dirty Jew” at him while pointing at his kippah.

Jewish communities around the world have been on heightened alert in recent days, following the deadly massacre in Australia, in which 15 people were killed during a celebration marking the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle.