The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have taken a new turn as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, has publicly criticized Moroccan footballer Hakim Ziyech, labeling him as antisemitic. This condemnation follows Ziyech's outspoken criticism of a controversial law recently approved by the Israeli Knesset, which allows for the execution of Palestinian detainees. The law, passed on March 30, 2026, by a narrow margin of 62 to 48 votes, establishes death by hanging as the default punishment for Palestinians convicted in military courts of alleged terrorism-related offenses involving lethal attacks.
On April 7, Ziyech took to his Instagram story to share an image of Ben-Gvir celebrating the Knesset's approval of this legislation. In his post, Ziyech questioned whether Ben-Gvir would now justify the new law as a mere act of self-defense, highlighting the moral implications of such a measure. In response, Ben-Gvir, as reported by the Israeli sports website ONE, stated that an antisemitic player like Ziyech could not offer moral lessons to the State of Israel, emphasizing that Israel would no longer exercise caution with its adversaries and that those who express antisemitic sentiments would face consequences.
This incident has reignited discussions around the ramifications of the new law, which has drawn sharp criticism from various human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, as well as numerous European governments. Critics argue that the legislation creates a discriminatory legal framework targeting Palestinians while imposing stricter procedural standards. Ziyech, a 32-year-old international football star currently playing for Wydad Casablanca and a former player for prestigious clubs such as Chelsea and Ajax, has consistently shown his support for Palestinian rights on social media platforms, further complicating his relationship with Israeli officials.
As reported by en.royanews.tv.
