Ban Israel's National Team from the European Netball Open

Wales Netball, Sport Wales, Europe Netball, and Cardiff City FC

The Israeli National Netball Team will participate in the European Open in Cardiff in May.

Israel stands accused of war crimes, apartheid, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza.

The Israeli National Netball Team’s inclusion in the European Open (Cardiff, May) cannot be divorced from Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza.

As the team prepares to compete, Israel stands accused by leading human rights organisations, international legal experts, UN officials and the World's top courts of war crimes, apartheid, and acts plausibly constituting genocide in its assault on Gaza.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed—including more than 20,000 children—amid systematic bombardment of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps. Among the countless violations, Palestinian athletes and sports institutions have been targeted: stadiums reduced to rubble or used as detention centres, athletes killed in airstrikes, and Gaza’s sporting future erased.

To host Israel’s team amid this carnage is to sanitise state violence and betray the core values of sports: fair play, equality, and human dignity.

Sport cannot be a shield for atrocity. By allowing participation, the tournament risks complicity in Israel’s impunity.

This is a defining moment. Sporting platforms cannot reward regimes accused of genocide, or enable the exploitation of sports to whitewash war crimes.

Stand with Gaza. Demand the Israeli National Team's exclusion until human rights and international law are upheld.

To: Wales Netball, Sport Wales, Europe Netball, and Cardiff City FC
From: [Your Name]

ENGLISH FOLLOWS WELSH

I Bêl-rwyd Cymru, Chwaraeon Cymru, a Phêl-rwyd Ewrop, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd

Canslwch gemau Tîm Cenedlaethol Pêl-rwyd Israel yng Nghaerdydd (7-11 Mai) ac ataliwch aelodaeth Pêl-rwyd Israel nes bod Israel yn cydymffurfio â chyfraith ryngwladol.

Rydym yn mynnu:
1. Canslo gemau pêl-rwyd Israel yng Nghaerdydd (7–11 Mai).
2. Atal aelodaeth Pêl-rwyd Israel nes bod Israel yn cydymffurfio â chyfraith ryngwladol.

Pam?
Mae croesawu tîm Cenedlaethol Israel yn cyfiawnhau apartheid trwy chwaraeon, meddiannaeth anghyfreithlon, a hil-laddiad. Mae pêl-rwyd Israel yn cynnwys timau o aneddiadau anghyfreithlon, a adeiladwyd ar dir sydd wedi eu dwyn gan Palestiniaid. Mae’r Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol wedi dyfarnu bod meddiannaeth Israel o diriogaethau Palestina, gan gynnwys y Lan Orllewinol a Gaza, yn anghyfreithlon, a bod cynnal tîm pêl-rwyd cenedlaethol Israel yn gyfystyr â chymeradwyo trosedd rhyfel. Mae arweinwyr Israel wedi cael gwarantau arestio wedi’u cyhoeddi gan y Llys Troseddol Rhyngwladol, ac mae’r Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol wedi dyfarnu bod ymddygiad milwrol Israel yn Gaza yn gyfystyr â hil-laddiad.

Ar hyn o bryd, mae Israel yn:
* Cyflawni hil-laddiad yn Gaza, mae degau o filoedd wedi cael eu lladd, mae'r holl gymorth wedi'i rwystro rhag mynd i mewn i Gaza ac mae bron pob cyfleuster chwaraeon wedi'i ddileu.
* Ehangu aneddiadau anghyfreithlon yn y Lan Orllewinol.

Mae’n rhaid i chwaraeon gymryd safiad:
Ni all pêl-rwyd fod yn cefnogi troseddau rhyfel. Canslwch y gemau. Ataliwch dîm pêl-rwyd Israel.

ENGLISH

Cancel Israel’s Netball National Team matches in Cardiff (7th–11th May) and suspend Israel Netball’s membership until Israel complies with international law.

We demand:
1. Cancellation of Israel’s Netball matches in Cardiff (7th–11th May).
2. Suspension of Israel Netball’s membership until Israel complies with international law.

Why?
Hosting Israel’s National team sportswashes apartheid, illegal occupation, and genocide. Israel Netball includes teams from illegal settlements, built on stolen Palestinian land. The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and Gaza, is illegal, and hosting Israel’s national netball team constitutes endorsement of a war crime. Israel’s leaders have had arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel's military conduct in Gaza is plausibly a genocide.

Right now, Israel is:
* Committing genocide in Gaza, tens of thousands have been killed, all aid has been blocked from entering Gaza, and almost all sports facilities have been destroyed.
* Expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank.

Sports Must Take a Stand:
Netball cannot be complicit in war crimes. Cancel the matches. Suspend Israel Netball.