Calls to ban Israel from international sports are escalating due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A petition has collected over 70,000 signatures urging suspension from sports events, coupled with increasing pressure from European officials and Palestinian sports organizations. Comparisons to Russia’s sanctions highlight perceived double standards in the treatment of Israel. Current Israeli athletes are caught in a challenging position amid political tensions and controversies surrounding competition, urging a reevaluation of ongoing policies regarding sports and global conflicts.
In recent weeks, calls to suspend Israel from international sports have intensified amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. A new petition, initiated by ‘The Democracy in Europe Movement 2025’, has garnered over 70,000 signatures as of February 16, 2024. With the Paris Olympics approaching and Israel’s men’s football team facing crucial playoff matches, sporting organizations are under pressure to take action.
Katarina Pijetlovic, a co-organizer of the petition, asserts that major sports bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA must intervene. The petition aims to pressure the Israeli government from the sporting perspective. Additionally, Irish Member of European Parliament, Chris McManus, shared a letter signed by several MEPs urging FIFA, UEFA, and other organizations to take definitive action regarding Israel’s participation in sports.
The call for action comes in the wake of a letter from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), led by Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, which also urged a sports ban on Israel. UEFA President Alexsander Ceferin stated that their organization has not yet finalized its position but is facing increasing inquiries. Concurrently, 300 Palestinian sports clubs are requesting the IOC to exclude Israel from the upcoming Olympics.
The ongoing conflict has had devastating consequences, with over 28,000 Palestinian casualties reported in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli military actions. Israel defends its actions, citing self-defense following the killing of over 1,200 individuals in its territory by Hamas attacks on October 7. Following this, Israel initiated extensive military operations in Gaza.
Pijetlovic draws parallels between Israel’s actions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to international sporting sanctions against Russia. She highlights the significant disparity in the response to both situations, emphasizing the need for the same accountability and action from sports organizations concerning Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Israel’s football teams currently compete at neutral sites due to safety concerns. FIFA and other sports entities maintain a stance that separates sports from politics. Israeli Football Association CEO Niv Goldstein expressed trust in FIFA to keep political matters out of sports, while acknowledging the complexities faced by athletes in representing their country during such turbulent times.
Pijetlovic points out the perceived double standards from sports governing bodies. While FIFA suspended Russia on security grounds, it seems reluctant to apply the same rationale to Israel’s situation, particularly given that Israeli athletics continue under conditions deemed unsafe.
Concerns extend to the legality of Israeli settlers competing on Palestinian land, further bolstering arguments for a sports ban against Israel. Previous calls for Olympic bans by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement have been largely ineffective, but recent incidents, such as Irish basketballers refusing to compete against Israeli counterparts, indicate growing dissent.
This basketball controversy highlights the complexities faced by athletes. The Israeli Basketball Association’s claims of antisemitism against certain Irish players sparked backlash. Supporting this view, former player Rebecca O’Keeffe argues that sporting bodies should enact bans on Israel, pointing to precedents set with other nations, and insists decisive action is overdue given the growing death toll and humanitarian crises in Gaza.
Original Source: www.dw.com
