\n<\/p>\n
Girmay joins a team with a storied recent history, as Israel-Premier Tech. <\/p>\n
The team, which was co-owned by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams since 2014, had come under fire from riders, sponsors and pro-Palestinian protesters this year, relating to the Israel-Gaza war.<\/p>\n
The Israeli military launched its offensive on Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.<\/p>\n
Gaza’s Health Ministry says the Palestinian death toll is now 70,100.<\/p>\n
Adams has close ties with the Israeli government, and once proclaimed himself the self-appointed ambassador to Israel,<\/a> as well as accompanying government representatives on a trip to the White House during US President Donald Trump’s first term in office.<\/p>\n The protests during September’s Vuelta a Espana extended to disrupt the whole three-week race, with the final stage in Madrid cancelled during chaotic scenes, which included some riders being pushed off their bikes by protestors. <\/p>\n One of the team’s best riders, Canada’s Derek Gee, left the team, saying riding for them “weighed heavily on his conscience”, and subsequently claimed to be the subject of a 30m euros lawsuit against him over his contract.<\/p>\n The team have never confirmed any details of the dispute other than it being with world governing body the UCI’s arbitration board. <\/p>\n BBC Sport understands the arbitration process is ongoing despite the change in team ownership. <\/p>\n