International Ice Hockey Federation signals it could allow Israel to play upcoming events

The International Ice Hockey Federation said Friday that it could allow Israel to play in some upcoming world championship tournaments after earlier indicating that Israeli teams would be barred over concerns about security at the events.

The IIHF said Wednesday that "Israel will not participate in IIHF Competitions for the time being," but in a further statement Friday clarified that this decision so far only applies to a men's under-20 tournament in Bulgaria starting Jan. 22.

No decision has yet been taken concerning the women's and men's world championship tournaments that Israel is due to play in March and April respectively, the IIHF added. Further IIHF council meetings are planned to discuss the issue in February and March before deciding.

Israel is no longer on the entry list for under-20 men's event later this month, which also includes Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey. Israel had been due to host the competition but it was previously moved to Bulgaria over "already existing safety and security concerns," the IIHF said.

Neither of the IIHF's statements on Israel this week made any mention of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The International Olympic Committee said Friday it had been involved in discussions around Israel's place in ice hockey.

"The IOC is aware of the situation and has discussed the matter with the NOC [National Olympic Committee] of Israel and the IIHF over the past few weeks, and has made its position very clear. Non-discrimination of any kind is part of the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter and the IOC will always uphold these principles," the IOC said in an emailed statement. "As the competitions in question are not held under the authority of the IOC but