(JTA) — In an unusual show of support for Israel, a number of professional athletes and sports teams have released statements on Hamas’s invasion of the country, which left more than 900 people dead.
“The NBA and (the NBA Players Association) mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism,” the statement said. NBA posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The league’s commissioner, Adam Silver, is Jewish. “We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace throughout the region. »
Many NBA teams later reposted the league’s message. The Washington Wizards, the team of the only Israeli player in the NBA, Deni Avdija, posted that they “stand with the people of Israel.” Avdija himself released a lengthy statement on Instagramwriting that he personally knows some of the victims and that “while I am here playing ball, my thoughts are constantly drawn back to Israel.”
NBA star Kyle Kuzma, Avdija’s Wizards teammate, job“Israel ❤️???? there are just terrible things happening right now and my prayers with them!!
MLB released a statement Monday afternoon, writing on X that the league is “horrified by the acts of terrorism committed against the people of Israel” and is “heartbroken for the people of Israel.”
Israeli Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer, born in California to Israeli parents and who played for Team Israel in international tournaments, shared MLB’s post on Instagram with a note in Hebrew saying: “There are no words. My heart has just been torn to shreds.
Kremer is likely to start the Orioles’ playoff game Tuesday — which they must win to stay alive in the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers — and the Orioles beat reporter Dan Connolly on Twitter. some of Kremer’s teammates checked in on him.
Many of Kremer’s teammates on Team Israel also shared the MLB job, including rookies Matt Mervis and Zack Gelof and Orthodox prospect Jacob Steinmetz. Boston Red Sox pitcher Zack Weiss, another Team Israel alum, posted an Instagram story about the conflict, as did Team Israel manager and former major leaguer . Kevin Youkilis posted a photo of himself in his Israel team jersey with the caption “I stand with Israel ????????????”.
Similar messages of support have poured in from the sports world over the past three days, including from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who is Jewish and long-time supporter of Israel.
Other teams that have shared messages of support for Israel include NHL players. New Jersey Devilsthat of Miami MLB And NBA the teams, the New York Jets, Cincinnati Reds And Philadelphia 76ers, among others. Cincinnati Reds assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman, who is Israeli, also posted a message of support.
Detroit Lions player Alex Anzalone said his parents are currently in Jerusalem, pleading with the U.S. government to help them evacuate safely. “It’s hard,” Anzalone told the Detroit News. “(That’s) really all I was thinking about.”
Anzalone’s parents were reportedly part of a group of 53 Americans who arrived in Israel on October 2 as part of an organized trip through their church in Naples, Florida. Rep. Byron Donalds, who represents the area in Congress, posted an article about the group on X, to which Anzalone responded: “My parents are in this group. Please bring my parents home… @POTUS,” tagging President Joe Biden’s official account.
Amar’e Stoudemire, the former NBA star who converted to Judaism and played professionally in Israel, shared a video on Instagram calling for a ceasefire, saying he “pray(s) for the safety of Palestinian children as well as Israeli children.” Former Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman wrote on X that he was heartbroken.
Coach of the Boston Celtics Joe Mazzulla spoke about the war during his pre-match press conference Sunday, saying “there should be many thoughts and prayers” for Israelis.
“I went there last year and I went there in 2016,” Mazzulla said. “It doesn’t matter what you are, whether you are Muslim, Jewish or Christian, Israeli or Palestinian. These are people who go through many dangerous times and situations. Our country is 400 years old and has been suffering for 10,000 years. You start to see the world’s perspective, and it’s a really, really difficult area to be in. So I think we should all be aware of that.
In Israel, the conflict has already started, affecting previously planned sporting events. The Israeli national football team’s next Euro 2024 qualifying match against Switzerland, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed. Matches for the Israeli under-17 and under-21 football teams were also postponed.
“In light of the current security situation in Israel, UEFA has decided to postpone all matches scheduled in Israel in the coming weeks, with the new dates to be confirmed in due course,” the statement said. The Union of European Football Associations announced on Sunday.
Israel’s top basketball and soccer leagues have also postponed their games. The Maccabi Ra’anana basketball team is scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Thursday, as the team celebrates a previously scheduled Israeli Heritage Night. (The Jewish Sport Report, JTA Sports Newsletter and New York Jewish Week co-sponsor the event.)
Hapoel Tel Aviv football club shared on social media that former player Lior Assulin and youth coach Alon Shamli were both killed in the attacks.
