Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel of Antalyaspor was freed from custody pending trial after a contentious celebration

Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel was prosecuted by Turkish authorities on Monday with inciting hate after he showed support for those being taken captive by Hamas during a premier league match. He was freed from detention while awaiting trial.

The Antalyaspor player was taken into custody late on Sunday night for interrogation after he showed off a bandage on his wrist with the words “100 Days 7.10″—a reference to October 7, the day Hamas assaulted Israel and took the hostages—next to a Star of David.

The Israeli international, 28, said to authorities that all he was asking for was the cessation of hostilities.

“Openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility” is the reason Jehezkel is being investigated, according to a late Sunday statement from Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. In a statement that was published on X, Tunc said that Jehezkel had made “an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza.”

In Turkey, where there is strong popular sympathy for the Palestinians and broad opposition to Israel’s military activities in Gaza, the gesture was considered provocative.

Jehezkel was placed on suspension by Antalyaspor, who also said that they were in talks with the club’s legal representatives on the prospect of ending his contract.

According to private NTV television, the athlete and his family were scheduled to return to Israel later that day aboard a private plane.

The athlete refuted claims that he performed provocative behavior while being questioned by authorities, according to the private DHA news agency.

“I am not pro-war,” DHA cited him as telling police. “I’m ready for this 100-day process to conclude. I want the conclusion of the conflict.

“I have never engaged in anything related to politics since my arrival,” Jehezkel went on. Since the day I came, I have never treated anybody disrespectfully. My intention was to highlight the need to put an end to the conflict.

The gesture that the Turkish Football Federation said “disturbed the conscience” of the Turkish people was denounced.

Meanwhile, Israel was outraged by Jehezkel’s incarceration.

Israel Katz, the foreign minister of Israel, urged organizations in the sports world and the international community to take action against Turkey for its “political use of violence and threats against athletes.”

He said, “Anyone who arrests a football player to show support for 136 hostages who have been with terrorists for more than 100 days represents a culture of murder and hate.”

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Minister of Defense, described Jehezkel’s imprisonment as “scandalous.”

“In its actions, Turkey serves as Hamas’ executive arm,” he wrote on X.