Pro-Palestinian mob attacks 'Israeli'-Turkish citizen Kloyda Medina in mall

• Turkish-‘Israeli’ social media influencer Kloyda Medina Halfon was reportedly confronted by protesters at Istanbul’s IstinyePark mall, with security personnel escorting her away.
• ‘Israel’s’ Foreign Ministry condemned the incident, while Halfon said she had previously encountered antisemitism in Turkey.

Dual Turkish-‘Israeli’ citizen and social media influencer Kloyda Medina Halfon was confronted by a group of protesters while shopping at Istanbul’s IstinyePark mall on Sunday, October 18, according to footage circulating on social media.

The footage appears to show protesters surrounding Halfon as Turkish and Palestinian flags were unfurled and insults were shouted at her. One person can be heard calling her a “child killer,” while others shout, “We don’t want Zionists in our country.”

Security personnel intervened and escorted Halfon away from the protesters and out of the mall.

The incident followed a campaign against Halfon by a pro-Palestinian group calling itself “7 Ekim Hareketi,” or “October 7 Movement.”

The group accused her of providing medical treatment and accommodation to ‘Israeli’ soldiers under the guise of medical tourism, alleging that the activity violated customs regulations.

The group said it had filed a criminal complaint against Halfon with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Friday. The allegations have not been independently verified.

‘Israel’s’ Foreign Ministry condemned the confrontation in a post on X on Monday.

“Turkey rolls out the red carpet for Hamas terrorists. Now an Israeli-Turkish citizen is harassed and screamed at in an Istanbul mall,” the ministry wrote.

It added that the incident was “disgraceful and unacceptable,” linking the confrontation to its broader criticism of Turkey’s policies toward Hamas.

In a separate video, Halfon said she was born and raised in Istanbul and that her family continued to live there. She also referred to the city’s Jewish community and said she spoke both Turkish and Hebrew.

Halfon said she had previously encountered antisemitism in Turkey, including instances in which she and others were allegedly refused service because they were ‘Israelis’.

“There were places where we were told, ‘You’re Israelis, so we won’t serve you.’ It has happened; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” she said.

The incident has drawn attention to tensions surrounding the war and the treatment of people associated with ‘Israel’ in Turkey. The footage and statements from the parties involved do not, on their own, establish the full circumstances of the confrontation.