Will this decision set a precedent? The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced on Wednesday January 10 the suspension of Israel’s participation in all its competitions for security reasons. The Israeli team was scheduled to participate in the Division II-A World Cup scheduled for April in Serbia.
“After carefully reviewing the situation, the IIHF Council has decided that, given the concerns raised around the safety of all participants in the Championships, Israel will no longer take part in IIHF competitions at this time,” writes the federation in a press release on Wednesday.
“In accordance with the IIHF’s obligation to protect all competitors and its obligation to put in place adequate safety and health measures to achieve this, the IIHF Council (…) has decided to suspend the participation of the Israeli national team in the IIHF Championships until the safety and well-being of all participants (including Israelis) can be ensured,” the federation further writes.
Since the unprecedented attack committed on its territory by Hamas on October 7 and the start of the conflict between it and the Palestinian Islamist movement in Gaza, Israel has seen several of its teams – national or club – forced to evolve. at home” outside their country. Macabi Haifa had to host Monaco in the Euroleague basketball game on January 2 in Belgrade; in football, the same club played against Rennes in the Europa League at the end of November “at home” in Budapest, and the national team played on the Felcsut field in Hungary a qualifying match for Euro-2024 against the Switzerland on November 15.