A Turkish court released a player pending trial after he showed a bandage with “100 days” written on it. In the 07/10 minute, he was feeling the joy of scoring a goal.
A Turkish court has released an Israeli soccer player who was detained pending trial for displaying a message that appeared to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.
Sagib Yehezkel, 28, showed a bandage on his wrist with the words “100 days” written on it. 07/10 inches was recorded next to the Star of David after Antalyaspor scored a goal against Trabzonspor in Sunday’s match.
After the incident, Turkish authorities summoned the Antalyaspor club player for questioning and charged him with “openly inciting hatred and hostility among the people,” Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunku said.
In a post on X, Tunku said that Ihezkel had committed “an ugly act in support of the genocide of Israelis in Gaza.”
“We will continue to support the oppressed Palestinian people,” he added, condemning what he called the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza.
NTV television reported that a special plane was sent from Israel on Monday to pick up Ehezkel and his family so they could return home.
In his statement to police, Yeskel said he did not intend to provoke anyone.
The private news agency DHA reported that he said, “I am not a promoter of war.”
Ehezkel, who has eight caps for the Israeli national team, celebrated his goal against Trabzonspor with a message on his bandage, marking the end of Israel’s 100-day war in Gaza and the coastal enclave of Hamas. It is believed that this was a reference to prisoners of war held in prison.
On October 7, Palestinian groups launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing around 1,140 people and abducting 250, according to Israeli authorities.
Since then, Israel’s brutal military action has killed at least 24,100 Palestinians, injured 60,834, and left thousands of others trapped under rubble.
Meanwhile, Antalyaspor announced that Ihezker had been suspended for “acting against the values of our country.”
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) further stated: “We condemn the completely unacceptable behavior of footballer Sagib Yehezker during today’s match between Antalyaspor and Trabzonspor (…) and exclude him from the team.” “We consider Antalyaspor’s decision to be appropriate,” he added.
Ehezkel’s brief detention also sparked outrage in Israel. “Shame on you, the Turkish government,” former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote to X.
Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause, has repeatedly described Israel as a “terrorist state” and Hamas as a “group of liberators.”
In a separate incident, Istanbul’s top team Başaksehir announced they would open a disciplinary investigation against fellow Israeli player Eden Karzev for reposting a social media message about hostages that read “Go home now”. did.
