Britain’s wheelchair basketball team has been furiously condemned for their ‘hugely offensive’ and ‘shameful’ behaviour after they turned their back during the Israeli national anthem.
The Paralympic team turned their wheelchairs around so they were facing away from the Israeli flag as it was lifted during the national anthem of the Jewish state last Saturday at the Wheelchair Basketball Nations Cup.
The ‘attack on the dignity’ of Israel’s players came as the two nations competed in Cologne in the final group stage clash.
During the start of Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, Britain’s players could be seen swivelling away to avoid facing the podium and the two countries flags, in protest over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The coaching staff did not take part in the protest, which has been labeled as ‘shameful’.
The act has also been angrily described as an insult against Israel and the spirit of sport.
The Israeli Paralympic Committee has since lodged a complaint with the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and called for sanctions for any athletes who repeat the gesture.
Moshe ‘Mutz’ Matalon, chairman of the Israel Paralympic Committee, said ‘the shameful behavior goes against the spirit of Paralympic sports.
Britain’s wheelchair basketball team has been furiously condemned for their ‘hugely offensive’ and ‘shameful’ behaviour after they turned their back during the Israeli national anthem
The ‘attack on the dignity’ of Israel ‘s players came as the two nations competed in Cologne in the final group stage clash
The British team turned their wheelchairs away during Hatikvah, the national anthem of the Jewish state
‘Such conduct is deeply disrespectful to the athletes, stands in clear contradiction to the Paralympic spirit and undermines not only wheelchair basketball but also Israeli sport and the State of Israel as a whole.
‘We intend to appeal to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and express our protest against this disgraceful behaviour, demanding its intervention to ensure that such an incident does not occur again and, if it does, that severe sanctions be imposed on anyone who brings politics into sport.
‘I can assure you that an Israeli team would never behave this way toward any national team. Unfortunately, it seems the world has already forgotten what Israel went through on October 7.’
Zimra Vigoda, whose son is part of the Israeli team, said: ‘Jewish, Muslim, and Christian moms [have] cheered as their sons played side by side… War and division have scarred every community. And yet those boys, now men, are still together on Israel’s national team. Their connection with one another has only deepened.’
The Israeli squad only found out about the protest following the game, which Britain won 74-64, because they were facing away from the British team as the anthems were played.
Ilay Yarhi, an Israeli wheelchair basketball player, said the act was ‘an attack on our dignity as players’.
He added his team-mates ‘felt like they were bringing unrelated issues on to the court and humiliating us’.
He said that some Israeli players later challenged the British team on why they turned their wheelchairs around.
The Israeli squad only found out about the protest following the game, which Britain won 74-64, because they were facing away from the British team as the anthems were played
Lord Ian Austin, the former Labour MP, said: ‘This hugely offensive gesture brings shame on the British team, whatever their motivation
‘A few of them answered that it was a protest and a way of supporting world peace, that they were not in favour of war,’ he told The Jerusalem Post.
‘Some wanted to come and talk and apologise – but we didn’t agree to that because, if you don’t respect us, you don’t deserve any respect in return.’
Lord Ian Austin, the former Labour MP, said: ‘This hugely offensive gesture brings shame on the British team, whatever their motivation.
‘Not only have these Paralympians betrayed the proud history of an international sporting movement that transcends borders, but they have also shown their ignorance about the diverse nature of Israeli society, reflected by a team in which Jewish and Arab players together strive for victory.
‘The British basketball team must now apologise for their insulting behaviour and pledge that there will never be any repeat. Failure to do so should call into question the future of taxpayer funding for the team.’
British Wheelchair Basketball received £4,925,000 in funding from UK Sport for the 2028 Paralympics.
The Wheelchair Basketball Nations Cup is run under the auspices of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and is separate from the Paralympics.
But ParalympicsGB reminded athletes against engaging in political protests during sporting events following the British team’s snub.
A British Wheelchair Basketball spokesman said: ‘British Wheelchair Basketball is aware of the incident during the Israeli national anthem at the Nations Cup. We are continuing discussions internally after conversations with ParalympicsGB, IWBF, and the Israeli Paralympic Committee.’
