Another Turkish soccer club ends contract with an Israeli player over his posting on Gaza hostages

Jan 18, 2024

Turkey’s leading soccer club Basaksehir says it's ended its contract with Israeli player Eden Karzev following a disciplinary probe of his social media post calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza by the Hamas militant group

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s leading soccer club Basaksehir announced Thursday it has ended its contract with Israeli player Eden Karzev following a disciplinary probe of his social media post calling for the release of

hostages held in Gaza

by the Hamas militant group.

The club's decision came days after

another Israeli player, Sagiv Jehezkel, was briefly detained in Turkey

and questioned for allegedly inciting hatred after he expressed solidarity with the hostages after scoring an equalizer during a top-division game.

The Antalyaspor winger returned to a cheering crowd in Israel on Monday from the Turkish coastal city of Antalya where he played.

Karzev was also briefly questioned by police in Istanbul after he re-posted a message on social media that marked the hostages’ 100 days in captivity with the hashtag “BringThemHomeNow.”

Basaksehir then launched a disciplinary inquiry on grounds that his action was “contrary to our country’s sensitivities.”

“In accordance with the clubs’ disciplinary instructions, the player was fined and it was deemed appropriate that he continue his career abroad,” Basaksehir said in a statement after the probe.

The two Israeli players’ actions were considered to be supportive of Israel’s offensive in Gaza even though both Jehezkel and Karzev said their messages were intended as calls for an end to the

Israel-Hamas war

that erupted after the

unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas

and other militants from Gaza on southern Israel.

There is widespread public opposition in Turkey to Israel’s actions in Gaza and overwhelming support for Palestinians.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel

of acts verging on “genocide” while describing Hamas as a group fighting for liberation.

Jehezkel’s detention meanwhile, caused outrage and widespread condemnation in Israel.

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