Ben Gvir accuses Arab Israeli sportsmen of supporting Hamas
Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right lawmaker and leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, has accused several Arab Israeli athletes of supporting Hamas and called for their citizenship to be revoked. Ben Gvir claimed that the athletes, who participated in various international competitions, had expressed solidarity with the terror group that has been holding 13 Israeli hostages in Gaza since October 7.
Ben Gvir named four athletes in particular: Mohammed Abu Rukun, a marathon runner who competed in the Tokyo Olympics; Mohammed Darawshe, a judoka who won a bronze medal at the World Judo Championships in Budapest; Mahmoud Khalifa, a boxer who represented Israel at the European Boxing Championships in Moscow; and Abdullah Minawi, a taekwondo fighter who qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Ben Gvir alleged that these athletes had posted messages on social media that praised Hamas and condemned Israel for its military operations in Gaza. He also claimed that they had refused to stand for the Israeli national anthem or wear the Israeli flag on their uniforms.
Interior minister says there is no legal basis for revoking citizenship
Ayelet Shaked, the interior minister and leader of the Yamina party, rejected Ben Gvir’s request to strip the athletes of their citizenship, saying that there was no legal basis for such a move. Shaked said that the athletes had not committed any crime or violated any law that would justify revoking their citizenship. She also said that she respected the athletes’ right to freedom of expression and their personal views, as long as they did not incite violence or harm the state.
Shaked added that she was proud of the achievements of the Arab Israeli athletes, who represented the diversity and pluralism of Israeli society. She said that she hoped that the athletes would use their platforms to promote peace and coexistence, rather than hatred and division.
Arab Israeli athletes deny supporting Hamas
The Arab Israeli athletes denied that they supported Hamas or any other terror group, and said that they were loyal to Israel and proud to represent it in international sports events. They said that Ben Gvir’s accusations were baseless and motivated by racism and political agenda. They also said that they had never refused to stand for the national anthem or wear the flag, and that they had always respected the symbols of the state.
The athletes said that they had expressed their opinions on the situation in Gaza, but that they did not endorse violence or terrorism. They said that they sympathized with the suffering of the civilians on both sides, and that they hoped for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
They also said that they had received support and encouragement from many Israelis, both Jews and Arabs, who appreciated their talents and achievements. They said that they were grateful for the opportunity to represent Israel and to show the world that it was a country of diversity and tolerance.
Sports associations back the athletes
The Israeli sports associations that oversee the disciplines of the athletes also backed them and defended their right to express their views. The associations said that the athletes had complied with the rules and regulations of the international sports federations, and that they had not violated any ethical or professional standards. They also said that the athletes had brought honor and pride to Israel, and that they deserved respect and appreciation.
The associations said that they rejected any attempt to politicize sports or to use sports as a tool for discrimination or incitement. They said that they supported the values of sportsmanship, fair play, and mutual respect, and that they opposed any form of racism, violence, or extremism.
