Basketball Ireland has decided that the Irish women's team will fulfill their EuroBasket qualification fixtures against Israel later this year.
The federation last month issued a statement saying it would "assess the next steps" after being drawn in a 2027 Women's Euro Basket qualification group with Israel, as well as Luxembourg and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
This afternoon, Basketball Ireland, after "extensive deliberation" issued a statement saying it would fulfill the upcoming fixtures against Israel which are to be played in November and March.
Basketball Ireland has informed FIBA Europe that it would only agree to face Israel at a neutral venue.
Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan said that "lengthy consideration" had been given to the decision, stressing the damaging consequences that would result for the sport in Ireland were the association not to fulfil the fixture.
"Facing Israel in these circumstances is not a scenario we would wish, but there has been no change in Israel’s status within sport, made by FIBA Europe, the IOC or any other major sporting body," Feehan said in the statement.
"FIBA Europe has been quite clear to us that sanctions would be imposed on Basketball Ireland, should we elect not to play, which would be hugely damaging to the sport here.
"Naturally there is major concern about the suffering being inflicted on the people of Gaza, which is frankly unacceptable. We would implore all parties in the current conflict to return to peace and for humanitarian aid to be fully restored to Gaza."
The statement noted that Ireland would be subject to fines of €80,000 for failing to fulfil the first fixture and €100,000 for failing to face Israel in the home tie, as well as possible expulsion from both the 2027 and 2029 EuroBasket qualifiers.
The controversy follows a similar flashpoint in February 2024, when Ireland faced Israel in a 2025 Women's EuroBasket qualifier in Riga. The Irish players registered a protest beforehand by refusing to shake hands with their opponents.
Ireland begin their campaign with home games against Luxembourg and Bosnia & Herzegovina on 12 and 15 November, and then an away fixture against Israel on 18 November.
