Four-time Olympic participant Moh Ahmed, along with 412 other Canadians, has urged Tennis Canada to cancel the upcoming Davis Cup match against Israel scheduled for September in Halifax. Ahmed, a renowned runner hailing from St. Catharines, Ont., and a silver medalist in the recent Tokyo Olympics, joined the call citing concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, which have been labeled as genocide against the Palestinian population by legal experts and human rights organizations.
The signatories highlighted that Canada has imposed sanctions on prominent Israeli cabinet members, aligning with decisions made by several other countries like the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. They argue that it would be morally unacceptable to proceed with the Davis Cup tie under these circumstances.
Notable individuals among the signatories include UN Special Rapporteurs, Palestinian women’s national soccer players studying at York University, and Hernan Humana, a former Olympic beach volleyball coach who is currently a professor at York University. The letter also references instances where athletes have refused to compete against Israeli opponents and calls on national sports governing bodies to prevent Canadians from participating in events where they would face Israeli athletes.
Emphasizing the role of sports in advocating for social justice, the letter urges Sport Canada and Tennis Canada to take a stand aligned with historical principles of justice and equality.
In response, Tennis Canada has affirmed that the Davis Cup match in Halifax will proceed as planned following the guidelines of the International Tennis Federation. The organization assured that it will collaborate with authorities to ensure the safety and fairness of the competition.
Tennis Canada acknowledged the complexities of the ongoing situation in the Middle East and reiterated its commitment to promoting the sport and providing a secure and professional environment for players and spectators during the Halifax tie.
The upcoming match at Scotiabank Centre will decide the team that advances to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers. Canada, having been demoted to World Group I after a defeat to Hungary in the previous round, last hosted a Davis Cup tie in Halifax in 2016, where they triumphed over Chile. In their most recent encounter, Canada emerged victorious against Israel with a 3-2 scoreline in a 2011 match held in Ramat Hasharon.