The woman, who had traveled to Turkey to visit her parents, was arrested on allegations that she violated a Turkish law prohibiting citizens from serving in foreign militaries. She was held for several hours in a detention facility before being placed under house arrest.
Turkish authorities acted amid heightened political sensitivity. Islamist activists had launched a campaign targeting women with dual citizenship who had previously served in the IDF, circulating their identities online and urging legal action.
Online Campaign and Legal Pressure
According to the report, activists publicized the woman’s name once they learned she was in Istanbul, labeling her with politically charged terminology and calling for her immediate arrest. They referenced an investigation reportedly opened by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and encouraged authorities to examine the case under statutes related to grave international crimes.
Israel sought assistance from the United States, and American diplomatic involvement ultimately secured the woman’s release. Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar were also involved in the effort. She has since returned to Israel.