Football player is arrested for publishing about Israel-Hamas – 11/24/2023 – Sport

Nice player Youcef Atal was detained this Friday (24) as part of an investigation for “defense of terrorism” following his publication about the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

Atal, 27, quickly deleted his post and apologized, but the Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation after the mayor and leader of this city in southeastern France were mentioned.

The player had published on his Instagram account a video of a preacher who, according to several sources, makes anti-Semitic comments that incite violence. The AFP news agency was unable to independently verify its content.

After publication, the club, which competes in Ligue 1 – the first division of French football – suspended the player in mid-October, before the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League (LFP) imposed a seven-match suspension on him.

French authorities warn of an increase in anti-Semitic acts in France since the attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, which left more than 1,200 people dead on Israeli soil, most of them civilians, according to Israel, on October 7.

The Israeli response to the attack, essentially bombing the Gaza Strip, killed more than 14,000 people, most of them civilians and including more than 6,000 children, according to the Hamas government. A four-day truce came into force this Friday.