Turkish soccer fans display anti-Israel banners during UEFA match against Hungary

Turkish soccer fans displayed anti-Israel and pro-Gaza banners on Thursday at a UEFA League playoff game between Turkey and Hungary in Istanbul. The Turkish national team secured a comfortable 3-1 victory against the visiting team.

Fans of the Turkish soccer team Galatasaray displayed banners that read, "Humanity has lost its conscience in Gaza," and "Let Gaza’s babies live."

Another banner stated the anti-Israel message: "If Jerusalem is not free, the whole world is in captivity."

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)maintains a clear policy prohibiting political messages at soccer matches. However, it remains uncertain whether the Turkish hosts will face any disciplinary action for the anti-Israel messages.

In January 2024, Israeli soccer player Sagiv Yehezkel was arrested and then deported from Turkey after Turkish authorities falsely accused him of “incitement to hatred and hostility.” At the time, Yehezkel was playing for the Turkish club, Antalyaspor, and showed support for Israeli hostages being held captive by the Hamas terrorist organization.

However, the president of Antalyaspor, Sinan Boztepe, condemned and fired the Israeli player from the team.

"I will not accept such behavior, even if it costs us in winning titles,” Boztepe told local media. "No matter how much respect the footballer brings us, the values ​​of the country and national honor stand above everything. We will invite him for a conversation, hear his version and say goodbye to him."

Last November, Israeli midfielder Gabi Kanichowsky, who plays for the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team, saluted fallen IDF soldiers during a Europa Conference League match against the Turkish team Beşiktaş.

Turkish commentators criticized Kanichowsky and called for punitive measures, claiming his actions amounted to a “political act.”

Turkey and Israel once maintained close military and commercial ties, however, the relationship has continued to deteriorate under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose government has increasingly adopted Islamist and pro-Hamas positions. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the war in Gaza began. Erdoğan has refused to condemn the Hamas massacre and, instead, blasted Israel for defending itself.

Last March, Erdoğan compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

“Netanyahu and his administration, with their crimes against humanity in Gaza, are writing their names next to Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, like today’s Nazis,” the Turkish president stated.

Erdoğan has also accused the Jewish state of committing “war crimes” and “genocide” in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.