Turkish authorities have charged Israeli soccer participant Sagiv Jehezkel with inciting hatred after he marked 100 days since Hamas’ October 7 assaults throughout a match on Sunday.
Jehezkel, 28, may face deportation after Turkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc dubbed the act an “ugly gesture”.
After scoring a aim the footballer displayed a bandage on his wrist which learn “100 days 7.10” in reference to the grim milestone within the Israel-Hamas battle.
He was then arrested and later charged with “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility”.
Antalyaspor stated they’d terminated his contract and booted him from the crew following the show throughout Sunday’s match.
Tune stated on Sunday that Jehezkel, who performs for Turkish membership Antalyaspor, had carried out an “ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza”.
Reports counsel he has since been launched from police custody however may very well be deported to Israel.
The participant advised Antalyaspor officers he was calling for an finish to the battle.
He stated: “I decided to make a humanitarian tribute to the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
“It was important for me to emphasise 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, because the worldwide neighborhood has known as for Netanyahu to ease army motion within the war-torn Strip.
The Turkish Football Federation dubbed it a gesture that “disturbed the conscience” of the general 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 performing because the “executive arm of Hamas” following the choice.
He dubbed the transfer 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 stated, referring the earthquake in Turkey and Syria final yr.
“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.”
Television channel NTV stated he’s anticipated to return to Israel right this moment along with his household on a personal jet.
DHA stated he advised Turkish cops he’s “not pro-war”, however that he needs the battle to finish.
Jehezkel additionally added: “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.”
Israel’s international minister Israel Katz additionally stated: “Whoever arrests a football player for a show of solidarity with 136 captives who are more than 100 days with the terrorists of a murderous terrorist organisation, represents a culture of murder and hate.”
As Sunday marked 100 days since Hamas’ brutal October 7 assaults, Israel launched an enormous quantity of knowledge on its efforts to wipe out the fear organisation.
It stated over 9,000 Hamas terrorists had been killed since October 7, together with round 1,000 terrorists inside Israel.
Meanwhile the Hamas-run well being ministry in Gaza has stated that over 23,000 Palestinian civilians have died through the battle.
Israel disputes these figures, whereas US President Joe Biden beforehand stated he had “no confidence” in them.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted that Israel has “not been successful” in lowering civilian casualties.
Israel has confronted repeated worldwide calls to relent in it’s assaults on the Gaza Strip.
Calls from the UN for a ceasefire have been echoed by spiritual leaders together with the Pope and even it’s staunchest ally, the US, has warned warning.
But Israeli forces have stated that months of preventing lie forward.
This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
Source: www.news.com.au
