In Turkey, an Israeli footballer was arrested for “public incitement to hatred” after posting a message linked to the conflict.

The war between Israel and Hamas is now being exported to the football field. Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel was arrested in Turkey as part of the investigation “Public incitement to hatred”

After being posted, on Sunday January 14, a message referring to the conflict during the First Division Championship match. Several Turkish media outlets, including the official Anadolu news agency and private channel NTV, reported that he was taken into custody in the evening.

During the Turkish Super Lig match against Trabzonspor, the goal scorer, Sagiv Jehezkel, who also has 8 caps with the Israel national team, showed off a band on his wrist that read “100 days, 07.10” –

which commemorates the date of the attack on Israeli soil by the Palestinian movement Hamas, October 7, 2023 – as well as the Star of David as a symbol of the Hebrew state.

“Antalya Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a judicial investigation against Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel for “public incitement to hatred” due to his obnoxious celebration in favor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.announced, on social networksTurkey’s Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunak.

The message, which refers to the hundred days after the Hamas attack, is interpreted by the minister as evidence of support for the Israeli military operation launched in retaliation in the Gaza Strip. “We will continue to support the oppressed Palestinians”

A Turkish minister wrote, condemning it “Genocide” Running in Gaza.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas war: Update on the situation on January 14

“against the values” of the country.

The Antalyaspor club announced that it had excluded its Israeli player, which it accused “Worked against the values ​​of our country”.

“We condemn the completely unacceptable behavior of the footballer Sagiv Jehezkel during the match between Antalyaspor and Trabzonspor played today (…) and consider Antalyaspor’s decision to exclude the player from its team as correct. Necessary disciplinary action and investigation against those responsible were immediately initiated.For its part, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) added.

Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a traditional ally of the Palestinian cause, has repeatedly described Israel as“Terrorist State”Hamas is considered a terrorist group by many countries, including the European Union and the United States “Group of Liberators”.

According to Hamas’ Ministry of Health, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 23,968 people, most of them civilians. An unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7 killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to a count by Agence France-Presse based on Israeli information.

Also Read: Articles are reserved for our subscribers Before the International Court of Justice, South Africa sought to demonstrate Israel’s “genocidal conduct” in Gaza.

The world with AFP