Britain’s wheelchair basketball team is under fire for turning their backs on the Israeli anthem, with critics calling it “deeply disrespectful and offensive”. The Telegraph has the story.

The team swivelled their wheelchairs around so they were facing away from the Israeli flag as it was raised during the playing of the Jewish state’s national anthem.

It is understood the players took part in the action in a protest over Israel’s invasion of Gaza following the October 7th 2023 massacre of 1,200 Jews by Hamas fighters.

The incident happened in the Cologne last Saturday during the opening ceremony of the third and final game of the group stage in the Wheelchair Basketball Nations Cup.

As the opening strains of Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, began to play, the British team could be seen turning their wheelchairs to face away from the official podium and the flags of the two countries.

The British team’s coaching staff did not take part in the protest, which appeared to have been an initiative of the players.

The team’s gesture was criticised as both an insult to their opponents and being against the spirit of international sporting encounters. The Israeli Paralympic Committee lodged a formal complaint with the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation.

It called for sanctions against any sportsmen and women who repeated the gesture, which it said was in breach of the rules banning political protests at sports events.

Following the British team’s snub, ParalympicsGB reminded all athletes not to take part in any political protests or gestures during sporting events or opening ceremonies.

The Israeli team learnt of the protest only after the game, since they had been facing away from the British team when both countries’ anthems were played.

Ilay Yarhi, the Israeli wheelchair basketball player, said the British team’s gesture was “an attack on our dignity as players”.Yarhi said his team-mates “felt like they were bringing unrelated issues on to the court and humiliating us”. …

Lord Austin, the former Labour MP, said: “This hugely offensive gesture brings shame on the British team, whatever their motivation. Not only have these Paralympians betrayed the proud history of an international sporting movement that transcends borders, but they have also shown their ignorance about the diverse nature of Israeli society, reflected by a team in which Jewish and Arab players together strive for victory.

“The British basketball team must now apologise for their insulting behaviour and pledge that there will never be any repeat. Failure to do so should call into question the future of taxpayer funding for the team.”

Worth reading in full.