Watan-Turkish authorities have arrested the Israeli player Sagiv Yehezkel, who plays professionally for Antalyaspor, due to his support for the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
According to Israeli Channel 12, Yehezkel spent the night under investigation after being charged with public incitement and supporting massacres against Gaza.
Celebration of the Israeli Player
The Israeli player’s celebration sparked controversy after he celebrated a goal in a match against Trabzonspor in the Turkish league. He raised his hand with a band that read “100 days on 7/10,” along with a hexagram star. The club removed a post from its page showing the player’s celebration, and the club issued a decision to suspend him.
Following this, the public prosecutor’s office in Antalya initiated a legal investigation against Yehezkel on charges of “publicly inciting hatred and hostility” and “supporting the massacre carried out by the occupation in Gaza.”
Investigation Opened Against the Israeli Player
Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated that “the public prosecutor’s office in Antalya has started a judicial investigation against the Israeli football player Sagiv Yehezkel on charges of inciting people to hatred due to his ugly gestures supporting the Israeli massacre in Gaza after scoring a goal in a match between Antalyaspor and Trabzonspor in the Super Lig.”
📌 Kamuoyuna Duyurulur!
Bugün oynadığımız Trabzonspor karşılaşmasında, Sagiv Jehezkel’in, Antalya’mın, Antalyaspor’umuzun ve ülkemizin hassasiyetlerine aykırı bir davranış içinde bulunduğunu üzüntü ve şaşkınlık ile takip ettim.
Kulübümüz resmi sosyal medya hesaplarında gol… pic.twitter.com/1jxA2dcKP0
— Bitexen Antalyaspor (@Antalyaspor) January 14, 2024
Antalyaspor confirmed that the player is under investigation, and the club’s spokesperson added that lawyers are working to terminate his contract shortly.
Club Fans Demand the Expulsion of the Israeli Player
Antalyaspor announced the exclusion of its Israeli player, accusing him of “behaving in a way that contradicts the values of the country.” The club stated, “Our board will never allow any behavior that contradicts the sensitivities of our country, even if it leads to losing a championship or a cup.”
Bugün oynanan Antalyaspor-Trabzonspor Süper Lig müsabakasında attığı golden sonra İsrail’in #Gazze‘de yaptığı katliamı destekleyen çirkin hareketi nedeniyle İsrailli futbolcu Sagiv Jehezkel hakkında Antalya Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığınca ‘halkı kin ve düşmanlığa alenen tahrik etmek’…
— Yılmaz TUNÇ (@yilmaztunc) January 14, 2024
Club President Expresses Surprise at the Behavior of the Israeli Player
The club’s president, Sinan Boztepe, expressed his astonishment at the Israeli player’s behavior, stating, “The club has deleted the unacceptable behavior scene performed by the player from our social media accounts. We will not tolerate such actions as long as I am the president of this club.”
Antalyaspor sosyal tesisleri önünde toplanan Antalyaspor taraftarları, İsrail sempatizanı Sagiv Jehezkel’in Türkiye’den gönderilmesini talep ediyor. pic.twitter.com/x8XesALmWu
— Safha (@safhacom) January 14, 2024