Canada-Israel Davis Cup matches in Halifax closed to fans due to safety concerns

The Davis Cup matchup between Canada and Israel will be held in a closed venue without spectators this week in Halifax due to safety concerns, Tennis Canada announced Tuesday.

The organization said in a news release the decision was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation due to "escalating safety concerns" and "intelligence received from local authorities and national security agencies." 

"We were forced to conclude that playing behind closed doors was the only way to both safeguard those involved and preserve the event itself," the release read.

The decision to close the Davis Cup World Group I tie to fans comes after more than 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, urged Tennis Canada in a letter to cancel the event over Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The letter cited scholars and human rights groups who have described those actions as genocide against the Palestinian people. The Gaza Health Ministry says nearly 63,000 Palestinian combatants and civilians have been killed.

In its response, Tennis Canada said it "acknowledges the ongoing and deeply complex situation in the Middle East."

No one from the organization was immediately available for an interview Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the International Tennis Federation, the sport's global governing body, said it shared Tennis Canada's disappointment over closing the venue but emphasized safety as the priority.

"The safety of all players, supporters and tournament staff is always paramount, and Tennis Canada considered a range of detailed security advice before coming to this decision," the federation said in a statement.

The tie, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, was initially to be played