Mainz dismisses El Ghazi for supporting Palestine: "It doesn't compare to the hell in Gaza"

After several days of uncertainty caused by pro-Palestine posts on their social media, Mainz 05 from the Bundesliga has decided to terminate the contract of Dutch player Anwar El Ghazi (28 years old). The drastic measure of unilaterally ending the forward's contract was announced on Friday, November 3rd, through a statement in which the German First Division team made it clear that the reason behind this decision were the player's statements on social media.

El Ghazi's situation in Mainz reached its climax after his statements in support of Palestine and against Israel on October 17th. Despite the club's suggestions to reconsider his position, the player, in another statement, reaffirmed that he did not regret his choice, stating: "I do not distance myself from what I said and support, today and until my last breath, humanity and the oppressed."