Sumud supports demand to ban genocidal Israel from international sports competitions

In line with the Palestinian civil society call for a cultural. academic and economic boycott, divestment and sanctions and the call of more than 300 Palestinian sports clubs and dozens of civil society organizations to ban Israel from Olympics, Sumud supports the demand to ban Israel from international sports competitions. We call on the Finnish cricket association and the cities of Vantaa and Kerava to refrain from welcoming genocidal Israel’s national cricket team in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier games from 14-21st August in Vantaa and Kerava.

Israel's regime of settler colonialism and apartheid has systematically obstructed the practice of sports by Palestinians. Palestinian players and athletes are routinely attacked, imprisoned, and killed. Palestinian stadiums and sports infrastructures have been bombed and destroyed. Athletes are denied freedom of movement to attend their own matches, competitions, and training. Israel consistently prevents Palestinian athletic teams from traveling abroad and denies entry of international athletes into the occupied Palestinian territory.

Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including more than 1,000 sportspeople, and destroyed or damaged 265 sporting facilities.

Racism against Palestinians is institutionalized in Israeli sports – from segregated youth football leagues to anti-Palestinian hate from fan clubs that go routinely unpunished. In addition, Israeli clubs based in illegal settlements are allowed to compete in official Israeli leagues.

With mandatory military conscription, it is possible that Israeli athletes have served in the IDF, committing war crimes.

We call on the International Cricket Council to suspend genocidal Israel's membership, just as it has done in the past with apartheid South Africa and, more recently, Russia.

Until it does, we call on:

• All participating teams to refuse to play against the Israeli national team.
• Finnish authorities to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute Israeli players who have served in the Israeli military since 7 October 2023 or who are reasonably suspected of complicity in or incitement to war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.
• Elected representatives of the cities of Vantaa and Kerava to take measures to ensure that no city facilities are provided for the event.
• Volunteers to withdraw their labor from the event.
• Fans to boycott the event.

There is no room in sports for apartheid or genocide.