The second Israeli football player was expelled from the Turkish club

The leading Turkish football club “Istanbul Basaksehir” terminated the contract with the Israeli player Eden Kartsev because of his call to release the hostages held by the Hamas group, recognized by the USA and the EU as a terrorist group.

The reason was a post by 23-year-old Kartsev on social networks on the hundredth day of their captivity with the hashtag BringThemHomeNow [Верните их домой сейчас же].

The football player was interrogated by the police. “Basakshehir” started a disciplinary investigation, noting that Kartsev’s act “contradicts the feelings of our country.” Kartsev was fined – and “it was considered expedient for him to continue his career abroad,” the Associated Press quotes the club’s decision.

Earlier, a second Israeli football player was detained in Turkey – 28-year-old Antalyaspor player Sagiv Yehezkel. During the match, he celebrated the goal, pointed to his armband with the inscription “100 days. 07/10”. The football player was interrogated on charges of inciting hatred and enmity. On Monday, January 15, he returned to Israel.

The actions of both players were seen in Turkey as support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. At the same time, both Yehezkel and Kartsev stated that their messages were calls to end the war that broke out after the Hamas attack on Israel.

According to the Israeli side, the group is still holding more than 120 hostages. In response, Israel, having promised to destroy Hamas, strikes the Gaza Strip, which is under the group’s control.

Turkey officially supports the Palestinians and condemns Israel. Turkish President Recep Erdogan has repeatedly called Israel a “terrorist state” and Hamas a “liberation group of Mujahideen”.