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Israeli soccer player arrested & fired from Turkish team after dedicating goal to Israeli hostages in Gaza

Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel

January 15, 2024

Sagiv Jehezkel, an Israeli soccer player for Turkey’s Antalyaspor, scored a goal Sunday night that he dedicated to the Israeli hostages in Gaza. The dedication led to the Turkish Minister of Justice announcing his prosecution. He was later arrested in Antalya.

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation against the  Israeli soccer player on charges of “inciting people to hatred and hostility,” said Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, over a gesture he made to the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and captured on television after he landed a goal.

“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 wrote on social media platform X.

Jehezkel, 28, celebrated his equalizer goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor in the top Turkish league by making a heart sign with his hands to the camera, and showed the words “100 days. October 7” along with a Star of David symbol on his wristband. 100 is the number of days the hostages have been in the Islamic terror group Hamas’ captivity.

He was promptly suspended from Antalyaspor “until further notice” following the appearance. The club president has also promised to terminate his contract.

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