As the Israel-Hamas War marked its 100th day, Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel came under fire for sending a message of support to the hostages still under Hamas captivity in a photograph during a game over the weekend.
In a photo, Jehezkel - who was playing for Turkish team Antalyaspor - showed a scribble written in the bandage on his left wrist. It read "100 days, 7.10," with a Star of David drawn alongside it.
The text pertained to the 100th day of hostilities between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters in Gaza since the latter's October 7 attack that killed over 1,200 people and took hundreds hostage, some of which have already been liberated in a seven-day truce in late November.
As a result, officials in Turkey - whose government and public sentiment recently voiced their support for the Palestinian cause - arrested Jehezkel in Antalya late Sunday night (January 14).
"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," Turkish attorney-general Yilmaz Tunc wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Jehezkel would eventually return to Israel in the aftermath of the incident.
From Celebration to Condemnation
Prior to the outrage, Jehezkel scored the equalizer goal for Antalyaspor in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor at the Super Lig, Turkey's top football league. He was promptly suspended from the team "until further notice" before getting arrested. The club's president also promised to terminate his contract in response to fierce criticism from local fans and media pundits that protests were held outside Antalyaspor's offices demanding Jehezkel's departure from the team.
According to The Guardian, the Israeli player was detained in the town before he was forced out of the country.
Welcome to Turkey’s Midnight Express.
— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) January 14, 2024
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
In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Turkey of serving as a "de facto executive arm of Hamas" despite Israel providing swift assistance to it after the devastating earthquake in early 2023.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also condemned Turkey for how it treated Jehezkel and his message.
"This is Turkey [in] 2024," he wrote on X. "Shame on you, Turkish government."
Meanwhile, Jehezkel told Turkish broadcaster NTV that he did not intend to "incite or provoke anyone" for his bandage message.
"There are Israeli soldiers held hostage in Gaza," he explained. "I am someone who believes that this 100-day period should end now. I want the war to end. That's why I showed the message here."
