The Israeli soccer player, who was arrested for inciting hatred after expressing his solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza during a Turkish league match, has been released, Turkish media reported.

From Israel, the Israeli defense minister accused Turkey of acting as the “de facto execution arm of Hamas”.

In a post on X (Twitter), Yoav Galand reminded Turkey of Israel’s swift assistance after last year’s devastating earthquake and called the treatment of Sagiv Yehezkel a “scandalous display of hypocrisy and ingratitude.”

The Antalya player wore a wristband during the match that read “100 days. 07/10” referring to the date of the Hamas attack against Israel on the 100th day of the Gaza war.

Israel’s foreign minister announced that Sagiv Yehezkel will return to Israel today.

According to the NTV television network, Israel has sent a special plane to bring Sagiv Yehezkel to Israel.

“I didn’t do anything to provoke anyone. I am not for war. There are Israelis being held hostage in Gaza,” he said during the interrogation according to the NTV network.

A second Israeli footballer, Eden Karzef, is in the eye of the storm in Turkey for posting an Instagram banner with the slogan in English “100 – Bring them back NOW”, referring to the hostages in Gaza.

The Basaksehir football team, known for its relationship with the Turkish presidency, announced the start of a disciplinary investigation against the football player.