Pro-Palestine Protest Held at Tenerife Basketball Game Against Israeli Team
A protest against Israeli team Bnei Herzliya's participation in a basketball game in Tenerife due to alleged "complicity in genocide" led to a fan-less game and heightened security measures.
About 200 people protested near the Santiago Martín Pavilion this afternoon, during the basketball game between La Laguna Tenerife and Israeli team Bnei Herzliya.
The protest, organized by BDS Tenerife, was against what they see as "complicity in genocide through sports." They held signs that said, "For genocide, get Israel out of the Champions League," and chanted "Boycott Israel."
The protest was peaceful, even though there were many police officers present. The police closed off the main parking lot and guarded the entrances to the pavilion.
Security was tight all afternoon, with police controlling nearby streets. The Israeli team arrived at the venue safely about an hour before the game, after being kept under security at their hotel in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The game was played without any fans in the audience, which upset many Tenerife supporters. Fans took to social media to complain about the decision, saying the club had given in to pressure and that they were disappointed not to be able to support their team.