For showing solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas in the middle of a Turkish championship match, the young footballer Sagiv Jehezkel, of Israeli nationality, was arrested for several hours.
Turkish authorities have detained Israeli Antalyaspor football club player Sagiv Jehezkel for questioning after he showed solidarity with those held hostage by the Hamas militant organization during a high-profile league match. He has since been released.
The player told police he was simply calling for an end to the war when after scoring a goal he showed a bandage on his wrist with the words “100 days 7.10” – in reference to October 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel and hostages were kidnapped.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said Sunday evening that Sagiv Jehezkel, a 28-year-old Israeli international, was under investigation for possible accusations of “open incitement to hatred and hostility”. The minister said in a statement published on X that the young footballer had engaged in “an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza”.
This gesture was considered provocative in Türkiyewhere there is broad public opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza and overwhelming support for the Palestinians.
The Antalyaspor club suspended its player from the team and announced that it was discussing with the club’s lawyers the possibility of terminate his contract.
When questioned by police, the player denied accusations that he had engaged in a provocative act, private news agency DHA reported.
“I’m not pro-war.”he told police, according to the DHA. “I want this 100-day process to end. I want the war to end.”
The Turkish Football Federation has condemned what it considers a gesture that “who disturbed the conscience” of the Turkish public.
The player was expected to return to Israel later in the day on a private jet with members of his family, private television NTV reported.
Jehezkel’s detention sparked outrage in Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on the international community and sports groups to take action against Turkey and its “political use of violence and threats against athletes.”
“Anyone who arrests a football player for a show of solidarity with 136 captives who have been with the terrorists of a murderous terrorist organization for over 100 days represents a culture of murder and hatred”did he declare.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called the young player’s detention a “scandalous”.
“In its actions, Turkey serves as the executive arm of Hamas,” he wrote on X.