Halifax activists are demanding that the CBC abort its scheduled live broadcast of the Davis Cup tennis matches in the city featuring Canada and Israel. Tennis Canada recently announced that the matches will take place in a closed venue without spectators due to safety concerns raised by local authorities and security agencies. This decision follows a plea from over 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, urging Tennis Canada to cancel the event in protest against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during the conflict with Hamas.
Various activist groups such as Independent Jewish Voices, Gazan Canadian Families, and Palestine Solidarity Halifax have expressed their intention to hold demonstrations during the matches set for Friday and Saturday. Asaf Rashid from the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians—Canada emphasized the importance of isolating Israel through measures like sports boycotts to hold them accountable for violating international law.
Palestinian activist Tarek Gazawi condemned the continuation of the matches amidst ongoing violence and suffering, insisting that the games should not be live-streamed. He called on CBC and other media outlets to refrain from broadcasting the event and not be complicit.
Responding to the situation, CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly confirmed that CBC Sports will proceed with streaming the tournament as part of its ongoing coverage of Canadian and international sports. Initially planned to be held at Scotiabank Centre, Tennis Canada has announced that ticket holders will receive full refunds within 30 days. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed disappointment over the decision to close the event to fans, stating that supporting Team Canada is a significant part of Canadian identity.
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