Israeli Footballer Arrested in Turkey for Gesture of Solidarity with Hostages Taken by HAMAS

Israeli footballer Sagiv Yehezkel, who plays for the Turkish club “Antalyaspor,” has been detained by police on charges of “public incitement of hatred and hostility.” On January 14th, during the match between “Antalyaspor” and “Trabzonspor,” the Israeli footballer, after scoring a goal, showed a message on his wristband to the camera that read “100 days. 7.10” and publicly expressed support for Israelis who had been kidnapped and held captive by HAMAS for 100 days. This open gesture of solidarity with the hostages caused an uproar in Turkey, which officially supports HAMAS. After the match, the management of the football club “Antalyaspor” removed the Israeli footballer from the team roster and announced the procedure for terminating his contract. On the same day, Sagiv Yehezkel was detained by the police. The Turkish prosecutor’s office began an investigation against him for “insulting public sentiment” and accuses the athlete of demonstratively supporting Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. As it turned out, openly expressing solidarity and concern for the lives of hostages taken by HAMAS terrorists contradicts the national values of modern Turkey. On January 15th, by the decision of a Turkish court, Sagiv Yehezkel was deported from Turkey and is returning to Israel.