Turkey arrests Israeli soccer player for dedicating a goal to Hamas victims

On Sunday, Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel was detained and subjected to interrogation in Turkey after the player paid homage to the victims of the Hamas massacre carried out against Israel during a goal celebration. Jehezkel was later released on Monday, according to information from the DHA-Sports news agency reported by AFP.

During the Antalyaspor-Trabzonspor match in the Turkish Super League, Jehezkela scored a goal and decided to celebrate by showing his bandaged hand with a message that read "100 days, October 7," along with the Star of David. This was in reference to the day Hamas attacked Israel and mentions the amount of time that the hostages have remained in captivity.

What could have been interpreted as a peaceful gesture in support of Hamas victims resulted in the player’s arrest. According to the information from Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tuncen, the Prosecutor's Office decided to initiate a judicial investigation against the athlete for alleged incitement of "hatred and hostility" by making what he described as an "ugly gesture supporting Israel's massacre in Gaza."

In addition to being arrested, the player was immediately suspended from Antalyaspor, and the club president promised to void the player's contract.

A ‘shameful’ decision

After Jehezkel was detained, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett shared a post on social media criticizing the decision.

"He was condemned by the national football association, his team announced he was suspended, then they said he'd be fired and to top it off, Turkish police have arrested him and he's undergoing interrogation. This is Turkey 2024. Shame on you, Turkish Government," he said.

"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," said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who also called the arrest "scandalous" and pro-Hamas.

Return to Israel

The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that Jehezkel will return to Israel this Monday.

"Turkey has become a dark dictatorship, which works against humanitarian values and the values of sports," Foreign Minister Israel Katz maintained, in remarks reported by The Times of Israel. "Anyone who arrests a soccer player over an act of identification with 136 hostages who have been held for over 100 days in the hands of a murderous terror organization represents a culture of murder and hatred."