Israel file complaint after British team turn backs on Israeli national anthem

Israel have submitted an official complaint after their national anthem was subject to an apparent protest towards the conflict in Gaza from their British opponents.

The two sides met in the Wheelchair Basketball Nations Cup in Cologne on August 16, with Britain emerging victorious with a 74-64 scoreline and going on to win the tournament on the whole.

But prior to the game, which was the third and final game of the group stage, Britain's players produced a boycott of sorts when they turned their backs as the Israeli national anthem played.

During other games in the competition, the opposition regularly the podium featuring raised flags when anthems were played.

But when 'Hatikvah' was played over the speakers, members of Britain's team swivelled their wheelchairs and were facing in a different direction in was perceived to be an act of disrespect.

The coaches did not participate and instead faced in the same direction.

The Israeli players did not appear to notice at the time and shook hands with their opponents before and after the game.

But after one later remarked that the stand-off was “an attack on our dignity", the Israeli Paralympic Committee lodged an official complaint to International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and issued a strong statement.

"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," Moshe “Mutz” Matalon, president of the Israel Paralympic Committee, said in a statement.

“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 Oct 7.”

Israeli complained after the protest from Britain's players. Image: IWBF Europe

In response, Paralympics GB reminded athletes of the clear rules that "demonstrations, protests and political statements must not be made, on the field of play and during official ceremonies, including medal presentations".

They did also say that they respect "the right of every athlete to have the freedom to express their views".

Meanwhile, a British Wheelchair Basketball spokesman commented “on the incident and confirmed they are "continuing discussions internally after conversations with ParalympicsGB, IWBF, and the Israeli Paralympic Committee".

Israel's players did not notice the protest at the time. Image: IWBF Europe

Former Labour MP Lord Austin demanded that the players apologise for their "insulting behaviour" as well as "pledge that there will never be any repeat".