A coalition of activist groups in Malta is calling for a boycott of the upcoming Malta vs Israel rugby match, set to take place on 5th April at the Tony Bezzina Stadium, urging the public to “show Israel the red card” over what they describe as “sportswashing” amid genocide and apartheid.

The statement, issued by Moviment Graffitti, Ġustizzja għall-Palestina, Watermelon Warriors, Lebanese Advocates, and Youth for Palestine, supports the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), which advocate for the full boycott of Israeli cultural institutions complicit in Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

“Rugby and other team sports gather people from all walks of life to celebrate the joy of the game. However, we must remain steadfast in our condemnation of Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the organisations said.

They argue that the Israeli national rugby team serves as a tool of ‘sportswashing’ — a means to rehabilitate the country’s global image through international sporting events, despite ongoing military operations in Gaza that have resulted in mass civilian deaths and destruction.

The statement draws parallels with international boycotts of apartheid-era South Africa, calling for a similar response to Israel. “We now need to put pressure on the apartheid and genocidal state of Israel by means of boycotts and sanctions against all those that are accomplices in its actions,” the groups said.

The activists are also calling on the European Rugby Union to take action by suspending Israel’s national rugby team from international competition — just as it did with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

They accuse Rugby Europe of breaching its own ethical standards by allowing Israel to compete, and criticise the fines imposed on national teams that refuse to play against Israel.

“This makes the European Rugby Union a complicit partner in Israel’s ‘sportswashing’ campaign and ultimately, genocide — a conduct that violates the 2024 ICJ ruling and various UN resolutions,” the statement adds.

The appeal comes in the shadow of Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, has resulted in 50,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023. This includes a recent escalation in which over 400 people were killed in a matter of hours ending a short-lived ceasefire.

“This is no longer just a matter of sport,” the statement concludes. “It is a matter of life and death for those living in Gaza and the West Bank. Malta should not be threatened into complicity. Israel must be held accountable on all fronts.”