7 minutes agoTurkey arrests Israeli footballer expressing support for hostages in Gaza
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Turkish authorities have arrested Israeli football player Sagiv Yehezkel of the football club Antalyaspor. He, according to authorities, will be questioned because during a match in Turkish league, he demonstrated solidarity with people being held hostage by Hamasi the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union. Minister of Justice, [...]
Turkish authorities have arrested Israeli football player Sagiv Yehezkel of the football club Antalyaspor. He, according to authorities, will be questioned because during a match in Turkish league, he demonstrated solidarity with people being held hostage by Hamasi the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Sunday evening that the Israeli citizen is being investigated over possible charges of “openly inciting the public for hatred and hostility”. Through a post at X ʹ that was formerly known as Twitter ʹTunc said Yehzkel was involved “in an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza”.
After marking the draw goal against the Trabzonspor club, the 28-year-old footballer displayed a bandage tied to the wrist where it said it had been 100 days since the hostages were kidnapped on October 7th.
This gesture was praised as provocative in Turq, where there is great public opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza and there is great support for Palestinians.
The Antalya club has suspended Yehezkel from the team and announced that it is negotiating with club lawyers to cut the contract with Israeli football player.
The Turkish Football Federation condemned what it described as a gesture that “confused the Turkish public's” conscience.
The arrest of Jehezkel has provoked anger in Israel.
“Turp for the Turkish Government” has written on X, former Israeli Prime Minister Naphtali Bennett.
Turkey has criticised Israel for its offensive at the Gaza Strip. The war between Israel and Hamas began after the Palestinian Radicals attacked the south of Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 others. Israel retaliated through a land, air and sea offensive, killing over 23,000 Palestinians.
Turkey's president, Recep Tayip Erdogan, has said Hamas is not a terrorist organisation, but a warring group for the liberation and protection of Palestinian lands.
