An Israeli-Turkish woman arrested in İstanbul earlier this year left Turkey in February following diplomatic efforts by Israel and the United States, Israel’s N12 News reported Wednesday, after earlier reports had claimed she was deported soon after her detention.
The report said Jessica Becher, 28, boarded a flight to Israel via a third country following efforts by Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the involvement of US authorities. She was reportedly accompanied by Israeli security personnel during the trip.
Becher, who moved from Turkey to Israel at age 17, had reportedly been targeted by online campaigns earlier this year due to her past service in the Israeli military. According to N12, groups circulated photos and videos of her in uniform and called for her arrest.
Anti-Israel sentiment has been running high in Turkey since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, with widespread public anger over Israel’s military operations fueling protests, boycotts and online campaigns.
The heightened tensions have contributed to increased scrutiny of individuals perceived to have ties to the Israeli military.
In a July 2025 interview published by Bar-Ilan University, Becher described leaving Turkey at age 17 without a clear plan and settling in Israel after arriving at Kibbutz Na’an, a communal settlement in central Israel, where she said she felt she could build a new life.
She later served as a “lone soldier” in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a term used for recruits without close family support in the country, where she helped establish a unit supporting immigrants and coordinated with foreign embassies, an experience that earned her a commendation.
Becher’s personal information, including her family’s address in İstanbul, was shared online, and complaints were reportedly filed with Turkish authorities urging action against her.
She was detained about two weeks after the campaign began on suspicion of “serving in a foreign army” and subsequently arrested, according to the report.
The Qatari-owned, London-based outlet The New Arab reported in February that Becher had been deported to Israel about a week after her detention. However, the N12 report indicates that she remained in Turkey longer and left the country later under diplomatic arrangements.
The same report said the complaint against her cited Article 76 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns the crime of genocide, though it was not immediately clear how the provision was applied in her case.