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The Miami Heat released a message in support of Israel following Hamas' attack on the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The Palestinian militant group surprised Israel, with at least 500 casualties on both sides already. However, NBA fans have mixed responses following the Heat's statement in favor of Israel.
Miami's official social media pages shared the message just hours after the attack, which occurred during a Jewish holiday. Several Israeli news outlets called the attack the deadliest in decades and the first direct conflict in the country since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
"The Hamas attack of Israel sparked a day of senseless violence and hundreds of innocent lives lost," the statement read. "The Miami HEAT stand with the people of Israel."
The Miami Heat were the only NBA team to condemn the attacks, while former player Enes Freedom called the Hamas' surprise offensive launch against Israel "barbaric." However, fans are divided on social media regarding the Heat's support of Israel considering their continuing conflict with Palestine since 1948.
One fan asked where the Heat was in supporting Palestine during the height of the recent conflict between the two nations:
"Where was the support for Palestine?"
Another Heat fan was disappointed that the franchise took sides in the controversial conflict:
"I'm so disappointed to be a fan of this franchise."
One fan said that the Heat deserved to lose the NBA Finals for supporting Israel:
"I love Jimmy and want to see him hold up that Larry O'Brian but this makes me happy you guys didn't win the Finals."
One fan showed support for the Heat and Israel:
"We stand with Israel, not with dirty terrorists."
Here're other reactions to the Miami Heat's statement regarding Hamas' attack on Israel:
Why did the Miami Heat show support for Israel?
Most fans were baffled when the Miami Heat sent out a message in a show of support for Israel following Hamas' attack on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7. The NBA has avoided any political statements in the past after Daryl Morey's remarks on China and Hong Kong a few years ago.
However, the case of the Heat could be different, as their owner, Micky Arison, is an Israeli citizen born in Tel Aviv. He's a dual citizen of the United States, but it's not surprising if he had ordered the team's statement to be released for the public.
Arison has owned the Heat since 1995, and the franchise has won the NBA championship in 2006, 2012 and 2013. The Heat's current market value is around $3 million, while Arison's estimated net worth is $6.7 billion.
