International Pressure Grows for Sporting Sanctions on Israel Amid Gaza Crisis
In an unprecedented move, the Amsterdam City Council and various international sporting bodies are considering measures against Israeli sports teams, including football club Maccabi Tel Aviv, amid allegations of the country's involvement in genocide in Gaza.
Background and Context
The Amsterdam City Council recently approved a motion to declare certain foreign sports clubs unwelcome if they are seen to contribute to occupation or racism
. The motion cited Maccabi Tel Aviv, whose fans have been accused of promoting racist and extremist views
.1 The move comes amidst growing international pressure on Israel over its actions in Gaza, with UN experts classifying them as genocide23.
Growing Calls for Action
In addition to Amsterdam's action, calls for sanctions against Israel have escalated in the sporting world. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed it will hold a vote in November on Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest456. Several member broadcasters have threatened to withdraw their participation if Israel is allowed to compete4.
UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe, is expected to vote on Israel's suspension from all European football competitions7. This follows a statement signed by 48 athletes, including France’s World Cup winner Paul Pogba and England cricketer Moeen Ali, demanding Israel’s suspension from international football8.
Reactions and Implications
The Jewish community in Spain has condemned recent taunts against Israeli soccer star Manor Solomon9. Pressure is also building for a vote on Israel's participation in the World Cup 202610, with implications for the qualifying group that includes Italy11.
Meanwhile, a group of athletes, along with Turkey, have called on FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel's national team12. The situation has prompted questions on the inconsistency of sporting sanctions, with Russia being banned from sports while Israel faces relatively fewer repercussions13.
Current Status
As the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly convenes next week, former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has issued an urgent appeal to world leaders to act on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza314. The outcome of the various sporting votes and the international community's response to the crisis will be closely watched in the coming weeks.