But the coach of Maccabi Ra'anana believes continuing his team's tour against NBA clubs while his country is at war was the right decision.
“We are the first team that is playing since the war started and nobody will break Israel, because we are a strong nation,” Orland said before the game.
The team from the Israeli National League was playing the first of three games during its tour.
The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,530 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides.
Orland and team sponsor Jeffrey Rosen said one player had chosen to return home, though didn't specify a reason.
Persons:
— Yehu Orland, Maccabi Ra'anana, ” Orland, Israel ”, Noa Kirel, Ra'anana, Eli Ginsberg, Orland's, Orland, Ginsberg, Eli . Forever, ”, Jeffrey Rosen, I’m
Organizations:
—, Maccabi, NBA, Israeli National League, Barclays Center, Nets, Saturday, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves
Locations:
Israel, Brooklyn, York, Israeli, U.S, Gaza