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Israeli basketball fans attacked Pro-Palestinian protesters after they interrupted a game between French team Nanterre and Israeli team Hapoel Holon in Paris on Wednesday by waving Palestinian flags,  social media videos showed. 

The game took place in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, with social media footage showing activists evading security on the court as they escaped into the stands, where they were assaulted by Israeli fans. 

Israeli fans could be seen fighting with pro-Palestine fans and grappling with security, while some can also be seen throwing items into the crowds. 

Police intervened to separate the groups and reportedly used force against the activists. During the clashes, Israeli fans could also be heard hurling insults at the protesters. 

Ahead of the game, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs issued warnings of potential protests, naming pro-Palestine groups like Europalestine and French leftist party La France Insoumise. 

Nanterre’s mayor, Raphaël Adam, initially banned fans from attending, arguing that the decision was made to prevent unrest. 

However, the Administrative Court of Cergy-Pontoise overturned the decision hours before the match. 

Hapoel Holon lost the game 87-77 but still advanced to the top 16 due to Bosnian team Igokea’s defeat by Germany’s Würzburg. 

Europalestine stated on their that the activists involved in the protest are currently in police custody, though no information has been provided regarding the charges against them.  

"This match, scheduled long in advance, sparked controversy over hosting a team from a country committing an active genocide, and whose leader is under an arrest warrant from the International Court of Justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity," they wrote in a post. 

The French Basketball Federation (FFBB) told °®Âþµº that it firmly condemns Wednesday's events, adding that it would "remain particularly keen to ensure that religious and political questions remain far from the basketball courts."

"To our knowledge, special security measures had been put in place for the game and the club of Nanterre was in constant contact with the prefecture," FFBB stated.

Both FIBA Basketball Champions League and Europalestine have been approached for comment. 

Growing tensions

The recent incident adds to growing tensions in the sports world amid the ongoing war on Gaza, which has seen over 45,000 Palestinians killed by Israel since 7 October, 2023.  

Palestinian sports groups have called for a ban on Israeli participation in international events, arguing it supports Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.  

Activists have also condemned the vilification of Palestinian solidarity and criticised sports bodies like the Olympics and FIFA for not taking strict action against Israel amid its war, in contrast to sporting sanctions against Russia imposed over its war on Ukraine.

In a related incident last month, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans incited violence in Amsterdam ahead of their match against Dutch side Ajax. 

Israeli hooligans were seen tearing down Palestinian flags from private property, chanting anti-Arab slogans, and clashing with bystanders. The violence, included vandalism, property damage, and the burning of a Palestinian flag and sparked retaliatory attacks.