PARIS: The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has barred Israel from its world championships to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. The IIHF Council made this determination following a careful risk assessment, consultations with participating countries, and discussions with the hosts, as stated in an official statement released on Thursday.
Israel’s men’s team was slated to compete in a Division II-A world championship tournament scheduled to take place in Serbia in April. The tournament would have involved matchups against teams such as Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
The decision to exclude Israel from the championships is specified to be in effect “for the time being,” and it comes at a time when Israel has launched a ruthless military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and has continued extensive bombing campaigns in Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 23,469 people, mostly civilian women and children, have been killed since October 7.
