Israeli players barred from competing in World Bowls Tour championship

The World Bowls Tour (WBT) has barred Israeli athletes from participating in next month’s World Indoor Bowls Championships.

The decision, announced in a press release by the World Bowls Tour’s board, is linked to rising political tensions following protests during the International Scottish Open held in West Lothian last month.

The World Bowls Tour described the decision as “difficult” but claimed “it has been made in the best interests of the events success and integrity.”

“This decision,” WBT continued, “reflects our commitment to protecting the Championships and ensuring they run smoothly for everyone involved.”

In recent years, particularly after the war on Gaza, athletes from Arab, Muslim, and European countries have increasingly refused to compete against players from the occupying state. This is in protest against Israel’s oppressive actions against Palestinians in Gaza, the ongoing occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, settlement expansion and repeated attacks on holy sites.

Since 7 October 2023, Israel, with US support, has carried out what many describe as genocide in Gaza. This has resulted in over 153,000 Palestinian casualties, most of whom are children and women, along with more than 11,000 missing people. The assault has caused massive destruction and a famine that has claimed the lives of many children and elderly individuals, marking one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

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