Irish wheelchair basketball players plan protest against Israel during European Championship qualifier: bow heads during anthem and wear black armbands in memory of Gaza dead
Irish female wheelchair basketball players plan a protest against Israel during a European Championship qualifier: bowing their heads during the Israeli anthem and wearing black armbands in memory of those killed in Gaza. The decision to play the match drew criticism from pro-Palestinian organizations calling for a boycott. Senator Chris Andrews raised the issue in parliament.
The protest against Israel in Ireland has spread to Paralympic sports. Players of the Irish women's wheelchair basketball team plan a demonstration during the European Championship qualifier against Israel: bowing their heads during the Israeli national anthem and wearing black armbands in memory of those killed in Gaza. This move echoes the protest of Irish footballers in Nations League matches. The decision of the Paralympic basketball players to play the match drew criticism from the organizations "Irish Sport for Palestine" and "Healthcare Workers for Palestine," which called for a boycott. Senator Chris Andrews of the Sinn Féin party raised the issue in the upper house of parliament, stating that sports for people with disabilities should not be treated patronizingly. The Wheelchair Association explained that the final decision rests with the team management, but the players' position was taken into account.