When On October 7, 2023, Hamas' infamous attacks killed 1,400 people and kidnapped another 250sport in Israel went to a very secondary place. First, how could it be otherwise, it stopped and then resumed looking for normality that has been impossible to achieve. Contrary to what happened with Russia, sanctioned after the invasion of Ukraine, The Israeli team and their clubs are allowed to participate in international competitions despite the genocide that is being carried out in Gaza and that already accumulates more than 62,000 dead.
Israel's basketball team, possible rival of Spain at the first crossingmonopolizes spotlights in the Eurobasket not for its potential, but for security reasons. The Interpol and the Polish Police, as the team will play in Katowice, are collaborating with the Israeli authorities to be able to guarantee order at all times. There is also concern about the reactions that both fans and rivals could have. The Israeli Federation has already cost you to apply friendly preparation, as many teams did not want to face them for security or policies. And it was not the first time he encountered problems.
Some rivals have reacted against war
The players of the Ireland women's team refused to shake the hands of their Israeli rivals and they stayed next to the court during the anthem before an FIBA windows in February 2024. The two combined will coincide again in the classification group for the Women's Eurobasket of 2027. The Irish Federation claims to be “extremely alarmed by the current humanitarian situation in Gaza” and measures are raised to those commitments to Israel. FIBA Europe has warned him with possible economic sanctions and even threatens to prevent his participation in future tournaments if he alters the normal development of these appointments.
Deni Avdija, in an official photo shoot with the Israel team.
This summer, During the U19 World Cup, Jordan refused to play his second day match in the group stage against Israel. The Jordanian Federation sent an official request to FIBA to not play “according to our firm principles and positions in such circumstances.” They were given the game lost 20-0. The former player Amos Frishman, president of the Israeli Federation, regretted that it would not be played. “I firmly believe that sport is a bridge between people and cultures and not a political sphere”said.
I firmly believe that sport is a bridge between people and cultures and not a political sphere “
Israel will have as rivals in the first phase to Iceland, Poland, France, Belgium and Slovenia. With all those rivals there are or there have been friction with war as a background. The Icelanders recognized Palestine in 2011, being the first Western Europeans who did it. This year they were already very critical of Hebrew participation in Eurovision. The French have also assured that they will recognize the Palestinian State. In Belgian territory, two Israeli soldiers were recently argued and questioned For alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The Slovenian government announced in the middle of July that it will prohibit the entry into its territory to two ministers of the Benjamin Netanyahu Cabinet to those who accuse of instigating the extermination of Palestinians. And, recently, in an UEFA Conference League match, Israeli fans exhibited a banner that a banner that The president of the country described as “an act of flagrant indescribable stupidity”. Subsequently, a bus with unconditional Hebrews was stoned.
Abstract from what happens
The Israeli team tries to abstract from the war, although it is inevitable to think about what happens at home. “I have friends who are soldiers and who risked their lives for the country. My heart is with themwith the families of the fallen and with the hostages that have not yet returned. My heart is always in Israel, “he says Deni Avdija, player of the Blazers, star of the selection and main ambassador of the country in world sport. There is usually a flag of your country.
The Israel flag, at the Deni Avdija box office.
To win a place at the Eurobasket, Israel had to play his home games in Rigawhere the final phase of the tournament will be played. It was only part of the exodus of Israeli teams. The MacCabi Tel Aviv played his last Euroleague in Belgradewhile The Hapoel Tel Aviv moved to the Bulgarian city of Samokov, such as the Hapoel Jerusalem, which also played in the Serbian capital.
I have friends who are soldiers and who risked their lives in the country. My heart is with them, with the families of the fallen and with the hostages that have not yet returned. My heart is always in Israel
For the next season they do not yet have a fixed headquarters. The intention of Israeli teams was to move to Cyprus, but the local government has refused to claim security reasons. To get an idea of the operation that may need the selection in the Eurobasket, More than 300 agents were required in the matches, armed escort in each displacement of the equipment, practically armored hotels … The Chipriot Police ensures that he could not guarantee security and that he was not going to assume such demands in high -risk meetings.
Israel's selection, after the Eurobasket draw, was located in Group D, which will play your first phase meetings in Katowice. That Polish city is Only 40 kilometers from Auschwitz, extermination field that was one of the main nuclei of the Holocaust. 80 years have passed since, but these days it seems much more recent.
