11 months ago
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ISRAELI football player Sagiv Jehezkel has been arrested in Turkey after he marked 100 days since Hamas’ October 7 attacks in Israel during a match.
Jehezkel could face deportation over possible charges of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility”.
AFPTurkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Sunday that Jehezkel, who plays for Antalyaspor, had performed an “ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza”.
After scoring a goal the 28-year-old footballer displayed a bandage on his wrist which read “100 days 7.10” in reference to the grim milestone in the Israel-Hamas war.
Antalyaspor said they had terminated his contract and booted him from the team following the display during Sunday’s match.
Reports suggest he has since been released from police custody but could be deported to Israel.
The player told Antalyaspor officials: “I decided to make a humanitarian tribute to the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
“It was important for me to emphasize that they have been in captivity for 100 days.
“I had no intention to provoke or express a stance on the matter. I understand the sensitivity in Turkey; it was purely a tribute.”
There is widespread opposition in Turkey to Israel’s actions in Gaza, as the international community has called for Netanyahu to ease military action in the war-torn Strip.
The Turkish Football Federation dubbed it a gesture that “disturbed the conscience” of the public.
Jehezkel’s arrest sparked outrage in Israel, with former Israeli PM Naftali Bennet writing on X/Twitter: “Shame on you, Turkish government”.
And Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant has accused Turkey of acting as the “executive arm of Hamas” following the decision.
He dubbed the move an “expression of hypocrisy and ingratitude”.
“When the earth shook in Turkey less than a year ago, Israel was the first country to stand up and extend aid that saved the lives of many Turkish citizens,” Gallant said, referring the earthquake in Turkey and Syria last year.
“The scandalous arrest of the footballer Sagiv Jehezkel is an expression of hypocrisy and ingratitude.
“In its actions, Turkey serves as the executive arm of Hamas.”
Jehezkel also add: “Throughout my time in Turkey, I never expressed any stance on the matter.
“When the club’s officials informed me about a ceremony commemorating the casualties in Gaza before a match in Gaziantep and allowed me not to attend, I stayed in Antalya, and everything was fine.
“In essence, I drew half a heart and wrote the number 100. It wasn’t intended as a provocation; quite the opposite.
!It’s about empathy for captives who have been there for so many days. I insisted throughout my time to stay focused solely on soccer.”
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