Israeli footballer charged with inciting hatred during match in Turkey

Turkish authorities have charged Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel with inciting hatred after he expressed solidarity with people held hostage by the Hamas during a top-flight league game.

He was released from custody pending trial.

The Antalyaspor player had been detained for questioning late on Sunday after he displayed a bandage on his wrist, marked with the words “100 Days 7.10” – in reference to October 7th, the day Hamas attacked Israel and the hostages were abducted – next to a Star of David.

The 28-year-old Israeli international told police he was simply calling for an end to the war.

Welcome to Turkey’s Midnight Express.

This is unbelievable.

An Israeli football player, Sagiv Yehezkel, scored a goal for Antalyaspor, a Turkish team.

He made a gesture “100” for the Israelis who have been held hostage by Hamas for the past 100 days.

All hell broke loose:… pic.twitter.com/vjSfMGdWsG

— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) January 14, 2024

Turkey's justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said Jehezkel was under investigation for “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility”.

Mr Tunc maintained in a statement posted on X that Jehezkel had engaged in “an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza”.

The gesture was deemed to be provocative in Turkey where there is widespread public opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and overwhelming support for the Palestinians.

Antalyaspor suspended Jehezkel from the team and announced that it was speaking to the club’s lawyers about the possibility of terminating his contract.

The player was expected to return to Israel later in the day on a private jet together with members of his family, NTV television reported.

During his questioning by police, the