Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel is ARRESTED and fired by his club in Turkey after dedicating a goal to hostages abducted by Hamas

An Israeli football player has been arrested and fired from his club in Turkey after he dedicated a goal to the hostages taken by Hamas more than 100 days ago on Black Saturday. 

Turkish police detained Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel and questioned him on Monday over a message he displayed on his wrist during a top-tier match alluding to the passage of 100 days since the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, state media said.

Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said prosecutors were investigating Jehezkel on a charge of 'inciting people to hatred and hostility' for displaying a note written on his bandaged wrist saying '100 days, 7.10', alongside a Jewish Star of David emblem.

Jehezkel, 28, held his clenched fist aloft to display the message after scoring a goal for his team, the southern Turkish club Antalyaspor, against Trabzonspor in Turkey's Super Lig on Sunday.

Antalya prosecutors launched an investigation into Jehezkel 'due to his ugly gesture supporting Israel's massacre in Gaza after scoring a goal' Tunc said on social media platform X.

Sagiv Jehezkel (pictured) held his clenched fist aloft to display his bandaged wrist saying '100 days, 7.10', alongside a Jewish Star of David emblem

He said the gesture was in solidarity with Israeli hostages, including Noa Argamani, taken by Hamas on October 7 

Jehezkel has been released pending a trial, and Israeli media reported that a private plane has been sent from Israel to pick him and his family up so they could return him home. 

Turkish media reported that his club's boss, Sinan Boztepe, fired him and said: 'Our national values ​​are above all else. No matter how much the player brings to the club. We will terminate his contract.'

Despite the severe consequences, Israeli media reported that Jehezkel did not regret making the gesture, and said: 'It was a gesture for the Israeli hostages in Gaza, a humanitarian gesture. 

'It was important to me to point out that they have been in captivity for 100 days. I didn't want to provoke anyone. I know Turkish feelings, it was just a gesture.

'I only wrote the number 100 and symbolized half a heart with my hand. 

Pro-Israeli supporters wave Israeli and pre-revolution Iranian flags as they gather for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London on January 14, 2024

People hold posters depicting Israeli hostages in Gaza during the event "100 days 100 voices" to mark 100 days since the October 7 Hamas attack, calling for their release, in front of the Opera Bastille in Paris, France, January 14, 2024

Israeli singer David Broza performs on The Yellow Piano NYC on the 100th day since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel in Washington Square Park January 14, 2024 in New York City

'This shouldn't incite anyone. On the contrary, it should inspire empathy for the people who have been trapped there for so long.

Fighters from the Islamist group Hamas stormed through Israeli communities on October 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 hostages.

The devastating war reached 100 days on Sunday, with Israeli tanks and aircraft hitting targets in southern and central Gaza amid fierce gun battles in some areas.

The Gaza health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes is almost 24,000, with more than 60,000 wounded.

Rallies in support of the hostages still being held in Gaza were held in Israel and elsewhere on Sunday.

Turkey has been a fierce critic of Israel's war in Gaza, launched in response to the October 7 attack.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on January 1 that what Israel was doing to the Gaza Strip is 'not any less than what Hitler did.'

In the weeks following Israel ground and air campaign against the Gaza Strip, Erdogan increasingly condemned Israel's actions as 'genocide', while describing Hamas as 'freedom fighters.'