Israel’s men’s national basketball team is preparing to tip off EuroBasket 2025 in Katowice, Poland, but their campaign is being overshadowed by unprecedented security concerns. With regional tensions and recent clashes involving Israeli fans in Europe raising red flags, Interpol, local police, and Israel’s own security services are joining forces to ensure the safety of players, staff, and traveling supporters.
Israel has been drawn into a tough group alongside host nation Poland, France, Slovenia, Iceland, and Belgium. Yet, instead of headlines being about matchups with Luka Doncic’s Slovenia or Victor Wembanyama’s France, the spotlight has shifted to security protocols.
According to Israel Hayom, players have been advised to keep national symbols hidden in public, avoid unnecessary exposure, and keep a low profile outside arenas.
The buildup to EuroBasket has been complicated. Several European clubs and federations reportedly declined to schedule friendlies against Israel in the run-up, wary of the political baggage that comes with facing the team.
Those fears were only amplified by an incident earlier this month in Hungary during a UEFA Conference League football match between Maccabi Haifa and Polish side Raków Częstochowa. Israeli fans unfurled a banner reading “Murderers since 1939,” referencing Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland.
The gesture drew condemnation from Poland’s president Karol Nawrocki, who called it “an act of blatant stupidity beyond words.”
Following the game, stones were thrown at a bus carrying Israeli fans. No one was injured, but the attack served as a chilling reminder of the volatile environment that Israel’s basketball delegation could face during EuroBasket.
To avoid a repeat of such incidents, Interpol has been called in to coordinate with Polish law enforcement and Israel’s General Security Service. The goal is to create a layered security blanket around the team, not just at arenas but also at hotels, practice facilities, and transportation routes.
While FIBA has emphasized that EuroBasket will go on without disruptions, the heavy involvement of international security agencies underscores just how serious the risks are.
For Israeli players, the situation is bittersweet. EuroBasket is the pinnacle of European national team competition, a chance to test themselves against the continent’s best. Yet they are being forced to focus on matters off the court. Being told to hide their national identity in public is a sobering reminder of the challenges Israeli athletes face beyond the game.
At the same time, the team remains determined. Head coach Ariel Beit-Halachmi has stressed that basketball remains the priority, even if the backdrop is unsettling.
This isn’t just an isolated EuroBasket storyline. Israeli clubs like Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv have also faced questions about safety in the EuroLeague and EuroCup.
For now, the focus shifts to the court. But as Israel prepares to open group play against Iceland, one reality remains clear: their EuroBasket run will be defined just as much by security measures as by basketball results.
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