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An Israeli player for a Turkish club sparked controversy after scoring a goal and celebrating it in a way that appeared to support the more than 100-day Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Sagif Yehezkel (28 years old) had scored a goal for his team Antalya Spor against Trabzonspor in the Turkish Football League, where he raised his hand with a bandage, and painted the logo of the six-pointed Star of David, and wrote on it (100 days / October 7).

The movement sparked widespread outrage on social media platforms, with commentators accusing him of supporting the "genocide in Gaza", while the Antalya state prosecutor's office opened a judicial investigation against the player.

According to Turkish reports, the Israeli player was heard in a court hearing "on charges of inciting hatred, because of his ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza," according to the Turkish justice minister.

In turn, the player defended himself, and said that he did not take any step to incite or provoke anyone, and that he is not a supporter of the war, and wants it to end, and for this reason he showed this slogan, according to him.

"Must be tried"

In its episode on (2024/1/16), Shabakat program monitored the comments of the platform audience on the movement of the Israeli player, amid a consensus that he should be punished and not to apply double standards, while others suggested banning the signing of Israeli players.

For his part, Adel said, "Arab players in Europe, when they express their opinion and support for Palestine, destroy their career," adding, "This player knows that he will not be harmed."

Samir pointed to the suffering of players supporting Arab and Islamic causes, and in this context, he said, "The West was demanding the expulsion of players who support Palestine to their countries of origin, and this player, even if he is expelled, the country is not his country in the first place."

Fouad rejected double standards and commented, "An eye for an eye, we must not accept double standards. This player supports the genocide in Gaza, so he should be tried like the player (Youssef) Attal, (Anwar) Al-Ghazi and others."

Saeed al-Hajj hopes that the Turkish Football Association and clubs will take a decision to ban the signing of "Israeli" players.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant attacked Turkey, and considered the arrest of the player – who previously defended the colors of Israel's under-21 team – "an expression of hypocrisy and ingratitude, Turkey with its actions acts as an executive arm of Hamas."

Later, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that the Turkish police had released the player, and that he would be tried without arrest, knowing that Yehezkel returned to Israel, after signing a document obliging him to come to Turkey if it was decided to renew the proceedings in his case.

It is worth noting that the Antalyaspor management terminated the contract with the player, accusing him of "acting contrary to the values of the country," while the latter said after his arrival in Israel, "It was a big and frightening nightmare, and I did not believe that I would find myself detained in Turkey."

Source : Al Jazeera