Top European club competitions to return to Israel on December 1, say organisers
Basketball - EuroLeague - Alba Berlin v Maccabi Tel Aviv - Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany, November 28, 2024 Maccabi Tel Aviv fans with an Israel flag during the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
PARIS :Basketball’s top European competitions are set to become the first to return to Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks, after clubs agreed on Tuesday to resume Euroleague and EuroCup games in the country from December 1, following recent ceasefire and peace initiatives in the region, the organisation said.
Games involving Israeli teams have been held at neutral venues since October 2023 due to the conflict in Gaza.
Six-time champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv are the Israeli clubs in this season's Euroleague, while Hapoel Jerusalem play in the EuroCup.
"After thoughtful deliberation, ECA clubs agreed on the proposal to set December 1, 2025, as the date for games to resume in Israel. Until then, Euroleague Basketball will continue to carefully monitor developments, stay in close contact with local and foreign authorities, visiting teams, and all relevant organisations," Euroleague Basketball said in a statement.
"Euroleague Basketball and its participating clubs welcome the recent peace plan with optimism and hope. The organisation reaffirms its belief in the power of basketball to bring people and communities together, and its commitment to contributing to peace through the shared values of sport, respect, and unity."
Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomed the decision, saying they had worked behind the scenes for the competition to return to Israel.
"The Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club has recently worked to enable Euroleague CEO Paulius Motiejunas, with the backing of all Euroleague teams, to make the decision to allow games to be hosted in Israel again," the club said in a statement.
"Maccabi's quiet efforts behind the scenes, both with Euroleague teams and with the CEO, have borne fruit, as Maccabi received the support of all Euroleague clubs, and the decision to return Euroleague games to Israel has been made."
Israel and Hamas, however, have accused each other of repeated breaches of the ceasefire since it was formally agreed eight days ago, with flashes of violence and recriminations over the pace of returning hostage bodies, bringing in aid and opening borders.
Israel President Isaac Herzog called for other sports to return to Israel.
"After two years in which basketball's Euroleague refrained from holding games in Israel, I wrote earlier this week to Euroleague CEO Paulius Motiejunas with an official request to resume games in Israel without delay," he said.
"I welcome the decision to bring the games back to Israel. This is the right move. It is an important move. I call on all sports organisations around the world, in all sports: it is time to strengthen the shared spirit of sport, and the message that sport connects people, rather than divides them."
The Israeli military said on Sunday a ceasefire in Gaza had resumed after an attack killed two of its soldiers and prompted a wave of airstrikes that Palestinians said killed 26 people.
