Israeli Basketball Team Triumphs amidst protests in Spain
Despite facing a planned anti-Israel demonstration and the burning of an Israeli flag, the Israeli basketball team Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a decisive victory against gran canaria in the 13th round of the Euro Cup. The match, held at the Gran canaria Arena in Las Palmas, saw Hapoel dominate wiht a final score of 87-64.
This win brings HapoelS record to 8-5, solidifying their position in the tournament. Gran Canaria,on the other hand,suffered their second consecutive loss,dropping to a 9-4 record and a 5-2 home game record. Notably, Gran Canaria’s first-half performance was their worst in history, scoring a mere 26 points.
The controversy surrounding the game stemmed from the actions of pro-Palestinian activists from the group Rebellious Canary Islands. Earlier in the week, they publicly burned an Israeli flag outside the stadium, protesting Israel’s involvement in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza and their participation in the Euro Cup.
Adding to the tension, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Fight against Anti-Semitism issued a high-risk alert, warning of a planned anti-Israel demonstration organized by Rebellious Canary Islands and the Communist Party of the Canary Islands (PCPC) outside the arena.The ministry highlighted the groups’ promotion of the protest on social media, which garnered support from other Spanish far-left and anti-Israel groups and individuals, including prominent journalist Javier Espinosa.
While the initial online response to the protest was relatively muted, the flag-burning incident raised concerns about the potential for violence or disruption during the game. As reported by The Algemeiner, the Israeli ministry expressed apprehension about the situation escalating.
Rebellious Canary Islands and PCPC are known for their activism against Israel,organizing demonstrations,rallies,and campaigns supporting the Boycott,Divestment,and Sanctions (BDS) movement. In a Telegram message posted on December 30th, PCPC explicitly called for a rejection of Hapoel Tel Aviv, using inflammatory language and imagery, including a bloody basketball with a Star of david and slogans like “Zionists out of the Canary Islands!”
Despite the heated atmosphere, the game proceeded as scheduled. According to Canarias Now,several activists from the Canarias por Palestine collective were removed from the arena by police for displaying Palestinian flags.The organization reported that 11 individuals were detained and evicted.
This incident highlights the complex intersection of sports, politics, and social activism, demonstrating how international sporting events can become platforms for expressing political views and igniting controversy.
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