June 1, 2026 - Belgian climbing gym withdraws as host of World Climbing Europe competition over participation of complicit Israeli team.
Le Camp de Base in Brussels refused to host the Youth Series competition following the Israeli team's refusal to compete under a neutral flag.
The Israel Climbers Association (ILCA) is deeply complicit.
ILCA appropriates Palestinian climbing crags in the illegally occupied Palestinian territory and hosts workshops for soldiers and reservists, specifically those who have served in the past two years. In other words, during Israel’s Gaza genocide!
Genocidal Israel has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since the start of its ongoing genocide in Gaza, including more than 1000 Palestinian athletes.
We salute Le Camp de Base for its principled stand, refusing to sportswash Israel's crimes against Palestinians.
Calls are growing within the climbing community and beyond for genocidal Israel to be excluded from international climbing competitions and to expel it from World Climbing.
Palestinians urge all venues, officials, route setters and judges to refuse to assist competitions including complicit Israeli teams until genocidal Israel is expelled, just as apartheid South Africa was. [link]
