- Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested and has subsequently been released by Turkish authorities after wearing a provocative, pro-Israeli bandage during a football match.
- Jehezkel faces an “incitement to hate” investigation and expulsion from Antalyaspor football club.
Turkish authorities released Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel from police custody, he returned to Israel on Monday. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated on social media platform X, “Sagiv Jehezkel, the Israeli footballer of Antalyaspor, left our country at 5:15 p.m. [1415 GMT].” Jehezkel had been detained in Antalya for wearing a bandage with the words “100 days” and a Star of David during a match.
On Sunday, Turkey’s justice minister announced an investigation into Jehezkel over the bandage incident for suspected “incitement to hate,” after his club, Antalyaspor, sacked him over the matter. Jehezkel stated during questioning, “I did not act to incite or provoke anyone. I am not a pro-war person.” After scoring a goal against Trabzonspor, he revealed a message reading “100 days. 07/10” on the bandage, referencing the Hamas attack and the number of days Israeli hostages have been held in Gaza.
In the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the multitude of brutal war crimes committed by Israel, it’s entirely justified that Jehezkel‘s actions have incited profound outrage.
Antalyaspor’s board decided to exclude Jehezkel from its squad for “acting against the national values of our country” by displaying the message. The club awaits court proceedings before terminating his contract. Istanbul club Basaksehir stated they would take disciplinary action against Israeli midfielder Eden Kartsev for harming “sensitive values” in Turkey. Kartsev was briefly detained on Monday regarding a social media post, as reported by state media.
