Ireland women's basketball team refuse to shake hands with Israel before their EuroBasket 2025 qualifier in Riga.

In an interview on the Israeli Basketball Association’s website, Israeli player Dor Saar said before the game: "It’s known that they are quite anti-semitic and it’s no secret, and maybe that’s why a strong game is expected.

“We have to show that we’re better than them and win. We talk about it among ourselves. We know they don’t love us and we will leave everything on the field always and in this game especially.”

Basketball Ireland’s statement prior to the start of the game read: "Basketball Ireland informed Fiba Europe yesterday that as a direct result of recent comments made by Israeli players and coaching staff - including inflammatory and wholly inaccurate accusations of anti-Semitism, published on official Israeli Federation channels - that our players will not be partaking in traditional pre-match arrangements with our upcoming opponents.

  • abbadon420English
    22·
    5 months ago

    Well, you’re making a fair point in some regards. I agree that the two state solution is forfait, but the general opinion is pretty pro-palestine on Lemmy. I respect your courage or ignorance in that regard. However, I think that any opinion is bullshit anyway. Hamas has done plenty to justify Israel’s reaction, but Israel’s reaction is completely off the shelf as well. I don’t think we, regular folks, in the west, can not trust media coverage in this regard to form an unbiased opinion, because media coverage is just another battlefield these days.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      5 months ago

      How can you say that Israel’s response is justified and overblown? It would have been justified to respond to the terrorist attack, it is a war crime to bomb hospitals and refugee camps. Israel has killed more toddlers, 2-6 year old children, since October than Hamas has killed in total in their attack and since.

      A state has a right to defend itself but it’s spineless to sit on a fence and call it centrist. Israel’s response is ridiculous and if it was Iran we’d have lost our fucking minds already.

      • abbadon420English
        61·
        5 months ago

        I don’t agree that when you’re gay, you should just dislike any muslim country, but I appreciate to hear your opinion about it. (I do agree that their treatment of gays is wrong though) I agree that that’s what an online community shoul be about. Different folks discussing different opinions. That’s what makes the internet awrsome, not advertisements and profits. Just discussions and closing the gap of polarisation.