Israeli soccer player being investigated for incitement in Turkey for referring to hostages

Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel displays a message of solidarity with hostages held in Gaza while celebrating a goal for Turkish club Antalyaspor on January 14, 2024. (Antalyaspor/X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel displays a message of solidarity with hostages held in Gaza while celebrating a goal for Turkish club Antalyaspor on January 14, 2024. (Antalyaspor/X; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation against Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel on charges of “inciting people to hatred and hostility” over a gesture, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc says.

“A judicial investigation has been initiated by Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel for ‘inciting people to hatred and hostility’ due to his ugly gesture supporting Israel’s massacre in Gaza after scoring a goal in the Antalyaspor-Trabzonspor Super Lig match,” Tunc writes on social media platform X.

Media reports indicated that Jehezkel had been detained for questioning, although such reports could not be immediately verified.

Israeli player Jehezkel, 28, showed his bandaged hand after scoring a goal against Trabzonspor today, reading “100 days, 7.10,” referring to the Hamas attack on October 7 and the number of days the hostages have been in Hamas captivity.

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