Pro-Palestinian activists storm basketball court during Israel-France game
A group of agitators waving Palestinian flags caused chaos during a basketball game between Israel’s Hapoel Holon and France’s Nanterre 92. The incident took place in Nanterre, France, during the third quarter of the FIBA Basketball Champions League game. Approximately 10 individuals ran onto the court waving Palestinian flags, provoking anger among the French Jewish community members in the stands who were supporting the Israeli team.
Some of the disruptors jumped into the stands but were swiftly apprehended by security. In response, a group on the pro-Israel side started chanting nationalist slogans. The match was briefly halted, but it resumed a few minutes later after the police intervened and detained the disruptors. Security measures were heightened for the remainder of the game, with officers equipped with shields to separate the Jewish community members from other fans.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs had issued a warning about potential protests near the arena. Groups like Europalestine and La France Insoumise were expected to gather and demonstrate against the game. Nanterre Mayor Raphaël Adam initially prohibited fans from attending the game to prevent public disturbances, but the decision was overturned by a court on Wednesday morning.
Despite losing the game to Nanterre with a score of 87-77, Hapoel Holon still advanced to the Top 16 stage. This was due to the Bosnian team Igokea losing to the German team Würzburg. Yotam Hanochi was the leading scorer for Guy Goodes’ team with 18 points, while Paul Lacombe stood out for the opposing team with 23 points.
The incident at the basketball game underscores the tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impact it can have on international sporting events. Security measures and vigilance are essential to ensure the safety of players, officials, and spectators in such situations.
