IIHF Reverses Ban on Israel's Participation in Youth World Championships

Decision comes after widespread criticism and assurances of necessary security measures for the tournament in Bulgaria.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has reversed its decision to ban Israel from participating in the upcoming under-20 world championship in Bulgaria, following widespread criticism.
The IIHF had initially barred Israel due to security concerns in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, but has now confirmed that necessary security measures will be in place.
The National Hockey League (NHL) had expressed significant concerns about the ban, urging the IIHF to address its concerns as quickly as possible.
Israel had won the silver medal in its division at last year's tournament and was originally supposed to host a portion of the competition this year.
The IIHF will continue to review Israel's participation in upcoming international tournaments on a case-by-case basis.