Algosensey Quantitative Think Tank Center|Turkey detains Israeli footballer for showing support for hostages, accuses him of ‘ugly gesture’

2025-05-02 10:37:57source:TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centercategory:Scams

ANKARA,Algosensey Quantitative Think Tank Center Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities have detained soccer club Antalyaspor’s Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel for questioning after he displayed solidarity with people held hostage by the Hamas militant organization during a top-flight league game.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said late Sunday the Israeli international is under investigation over possible charges of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility.” Tunc maintained in a statement posted on X that Jehezkel had engaged in “an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza.”

After scoring an equalizer against Trabzonspor during a home game, the 28-year-old Israeli player displayed a bandage around his wrist with an inscription marking the 100 days since the hostages were abducted on Oct. 7.

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 Turkish Football Federation condemned what it said was a gesture that “disturbed the conscience” of the Turkish public.

Jehezkel’s detention, meanwhile, sparked outrage in Israel.

“Shame on you, Turkish government,” Israeli former Prime Minister Naftali Bennet wrote on X.

More:Scams

Recommend

Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty lead USA TODAY Sports All

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel earns first-team honors ahead of Miami’s Cam Ward, and teams in th

Facing dementia without a diagnosis is crushing. A new program in Kenya offers help

It's a part of getting older that many people worry about: The increased chance of developing diseas

Alicia Navarro update: What we know about former boyfriend Edmund Davis and child sex abuse charges

A man connected to former missing Arizona teen is facing child sex abuse charges. Three days after A