2024-01-14 23:23:53
Israeli footballer Sagiv Yehezkel (28), who plays for Turkish first division club Antalyaspor, was arrested on Sunday because, after scoring a goal, he expressed his solidarity with the hostages held by the terrorist organization Hamas with an inscription on a bandage. Prosecutors in Antalya have opened an investigation into charges of “incitement to hatred and hostility” against Yehezkel, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.
According to the Archyde.com news agency, Tunc spoke of an “ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza.” Yehezkel actually had a white bandage on his wrist held up to the cameras, on which he handwritten “100 days, October 7th.” had written, supplemented by a Star of David. He was obviously referring to the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th, 100 days since which. Over 100 people who were abducted at that time are still in the hands of Palestinian terrorists. The hostages were remembered with demonstrations and solidarity actions all over the world, including in Vienna.
The Israel international was also fired by his club. As Antalyaspor announced on its website, the football player was terminated by a decision of the club’s board of directors because his statement “acted against the national values of our country.” Of course, the club didn’t forego Yehezkel’s goal. The Israeli equalized in the 68th minute to make it 1-1 in the home game against Tranzonspor and saved his previous team a point.
The action against Yehezkel sparked widespread outrage in Israel. “Shame on you, Turkish government,” wrote former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Twitter. He pointed out that after Yehezkel’s “simple gesture” “all hell broke loose” in Turkey. The player was initially convicted by the Turkish Football Association, then suspended and fired by his team. Finally, the Turkish police arrested and interrogated him. The footballer, who had previously played for Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv, among others, only moved to the Turkish SüperLig last year.
1705277422
#Türkiye #arrested #footballer #hostage #solidarity #gesture