The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Turkish authorities have released Israeli football player Sagi Yehzkel, who was detained by the security forces in the state of Antalya in southern Turkey on Sunday, on charges of inciting hate and hostility. Meanwhile, Israeli ministers expressed their indignation over the arrest of the Israeli player.
The Turkish police arrested Yehzkel on Sunday for “incitement to hatred and hostility” due to his display of the Star of David emblem, accompanied by the phrase “100 days / October 7,” following his goal in the match between his team, Antalyaspor, and Trabzonspor. This was in reference to the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7th, which marked its 100th day yesterday.
Antalyaspor announced on Sunday the exclusion of the Israeli player from the team lineup, and the club’s spokesman, Eren Alkan, said the player took this step without the club’s knowledge and that his contract would be terminated as soon as possible. Furthermore, the vice-president’s agent of Antalyaspor stated that the club’s lawyers are working on terminating Yehzkel’s contract.
On Sunday evening, the Turkish Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunç, posted on social media that the Antalya Public Prosecutor’s Office had launched a judicial investigation against the Israeli player for “publicly inciting the audience to hatred and hostility” due to “his ugly gesture that supports the Israeli massacre in Gaza” after scoring a goal in the match between Antalyaspor and Trabzonspor.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced this Monday afternoon that the player was released in Turkey and would return to Israel today.
Demirören News Agency reported that the player was released after the interrogation by the public prosecutor and that he would be tried without detention.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has urged Israelis not to travel to Turkey or buy its products (Anadolu Agency)
Angry Israeli Responses
Commenting on the player’s arrest, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Turkey is effectively acting as an executive arm for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), adding that the arrest of the Israeli player is “shameful and hypocritical.”
Gallant also stated that Turkey is “ungrateful to Israel, which was the first to help after the 2022 earthquake,” according to his statement.
Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Israelis not to travel to Turkey or purchase its products, arguing that “Turkey is acting against Israel,” and said, “The State of Israel and its citizens should not be lenient with Turkey; we cannot be trampled upon.”
Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz considered that “Turkey has become a dark dictatorship” and said, “Those who arrest a football player for showing solidarity with 136 hostages held for more than 100 days by a murderous terrorist organization represent a culture of killing and hatred.”
Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar said, “We worked all night for the release of Yehzkel; we must act responsibly and speak cautiously until the issue is resolved and Yehzkel returns to Israel.”
Yehzkel, for his part, felt that he had done nothing to incite or provoke anyone and that he is not a supporter of war. He said, “Israeli soldiers have been captured in Gaza, and I believe this 100-day period should now end. I want the war to end, which is why I showed this emblem.”
Another Israeli Player
While Yehzkel’s case is still unresolved, another Israeli player’s situation has come to light: Eden Karzev, the Israeli national team and Başakşehir Turkish club midfielder, who posted about the hostages in Gaza.
In response, the team’s fan organization said, “We do not want Zionist supporters.” Başakşehir announced that “a disciplinary investigation has been initiated against the player, Eden Karzev, who violated the club’s disciplinary instructions by posting on his social media account ignoring the feelings of our people.”
