Turkish fans rout Israeli team

The ongoing genocidal, criminal, U.S.-backed Israeli war on Gaza, entering its third week, continues to generate growing worldwide condemnation in many forms. The largest protests have taken place throughout the Middle East, where millions of outraged people have taken to the streets to show their solidarity with the heroic people of Gaza, Hamas and the Palestinian resistance in general. Israeli and U.S. embassies and consulates have been the main targets of many of these protests—and rightfully so.

These protests are taking place not only in the streets but in unexpected venues as well. A heroic example of this took place on Jan. 13 in Ankara, Turkey, inside a sports arena. When the Israeli basketball team, Bnei Hasharon, came on the court during a Eurocup game to play against Turk Telekom, hundreds of Turkish fans began to throw shoes at them, yelling “Israeli murderers, get out of Palestine!” Palestinian flags—which the fans had hidden in their clothing—were proudly displayed. (www.edgeofsports.com)

While this protest was taking place inside, outside 4,000 anti-Zionist protesters were turned back from entering the arena by thousands of police. Having anticipated a protest against the Israeli team, the police had limited the numbers they let into the arena. What they did not anticipate was the angry crowd of fans, who had also planned to take off their shoes and throw them on the basketball court. Taking one’s shoes off and throwing them is a display of major anger in the Middle East.

The Bnei Hasharon players were forced to flee to their locker room, where they stayed for two hours while fans battled the police. Many fans were physically removed from the arena and also arrested. When the police had restored “order,” Bnei Hasharon still refused to come back on the court to play, thereby forfeiting the game to the Turkish team.

Hopefully, this show of solidarity in Turkey with the Palestinians will inspire others around the world to confront Zionism wherever and in whatever form it rears its ugly head.