Another instance of increasing hostility was evident during a European Championship game between Israel's amputee soccer team and Turkey's team in France, where Turkey won 6-0.
Even before the match on Sunday, Turkish players, who hold the European championship title, arranged their crutches to spell out "Gaza." They then refused to shake hands with the Israeli players and turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem. Turkish fans, who arrived with Palestinian flags, booed and cursed during "Hatikvah" and chanted calls for the destruction of Israel.
The hostility continued. In a pre-game speech, the Turkish captain urged his teammates to "slaughter the Israelis as they slaughtered the Palestinians. Let's do it for Gaza and Palestine. Let's slap them in the name of the children in Gaza." On the field, Turkey led 2-0 at halftime and ultimately defeated Israel 6-0. Even after the game, the Turkish players refused to shake hands with the Israelis.
The Israeli team includes individuals who were injured on October 7, including Ben Benjamin, who lost his leg in a Hamas terrorist attack at the Nova music festival in Kibbutz Re'im.
After the game, the Turkish captain said: "I can't describe the happiness I feel. This victory is dedicated to our fans who came to France and our brothers in Turkey. We also dedicate this win to the Palestinian people, who suffer from genocide every day." The president of the Turkish Disabled Sports Federation added, "We dedicate this victory to our oppressed brothers."
Not Israel's biggest fans
Since October 7, Turkey's hostility toward Israel has been increasingly evident. One notable incident involved Sagiv Jehezkel of Antalyaspor. In January, after scoring a goal, Jehezkel made a half-heart gesture with "100 days" written on his bandage to honor the hostages. The team initially posted the celebration on social media but quickly removed it due to backlash.
Jehezkel was arrested and deported from Turkey for his gesture. Antalyaspor announced his suspension, with club president Sinan Boztpe stating, "His contract will be terminated. I will not tolerate such behavior, even if it costs us titles." Jehezkel faced a media storm and an investigation for "incitement to hatred and hostility." He was questioned by police, brought before a judge, and then deported, returning to Israel on a plane chartered by the Israel Football Association.
A similar case involved Eden Kartsev of Başakşehir, who was investigated by police after posting in support of the hostages. He was ultimately released from the team and signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv.