Israeli footballer released in Turkey

28-year-old Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel has been released by a Turkish court.

According to a report, Jehezkel was released on Monday after being detained overnight for alleged incitement to hate during a first division match.

The incident occurred when Jehezkel, playing for Antalyaspor, celebrated a goal against Trabzonspor by displaying a bandage on his wrist with the message “100 days. 07/10” next to a Star of David.

Turkish prosecutors initiated a criminal investigation, accusing Jehezkel of “incitement to hate and hostility.”

In response, Antalyaspor terminated the forward’s contract, citing behavior conflicting with the country’s sensitivities.

The diplomatic fallout escalated as Israel strongly condemned Jehezkel’s detention, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticizing Turkey’s actions as emblematic of a “dark dictatorship” against humane and sports values. Tensions between the two nations, already strained, reached a new low.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant went further, accusing Turkey of acting as the “executive branch of Hamas.”

This development prompted Israel to advise its citizens in Turkey to leave as a security precaution.

Jehezkel’s message on the bandage referred to the 100 days since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In a statement to the police, he clarified that he aimed to draw attention to the hostages taken by Hamas and not to support the war.

Jehezkel emphasized, “I am not a pro-war person,” expressing his desire for the conflict to end.

The situation raised questions about a potential trial against the player in absentia and his intentions regarding a return to Turkey.

A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry stated that Jehezkel would return to Israel later on Monday.

This incident unfolded against the backdrop of strained relations between Turkey and Israel, fueled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strong criticism of Israel over the Gaza conflict’s toll. Jehezkel, displaying the Star of David, maintained that he never intended to engage in politics and was mindful of Turkish cultural sensitivities since joining Antalyaspor in September.

Antalyaspor promptly sacked Jehezkel, tearing up a contract meant to run until 2026. The Turkish Football Federation condemned the player’s behavior, endorsing Antalyaspor’s decision. In a separate incident, Istanbul’s Basaksehir initiated a disciplinary investigation into another Israeli player, Eden Karzev, for sharing a social media message about hostages, reading: “Bring Them Home Now.”