Paris 2024 officials have ordered an investigation into alleged death threats and anti-Semitic gestures aimed at Israeli athletes during the Olympics.
It’s understood that the gestures were made during Israel‘s match against Paraguay in the men’s football in Paris last night.
The organisers have strongly condemned these acts and confirmed to Sky News that an official complaint has been lodged with the French authorities.
During Paraguay’s 4-2 win against Israel, ‘Genocide Olympics’ banners were displayed in the crowd, while the Israeli national anthem was also booed.
It comes after the International Olympic Committee ignored some calls for Israel to be banned from this year’s Games over the ongoing war in Gaza.
There were also ‘Genocide Olympics’ banners (pictured) displayed at the stadium, while the Israeli national anthem was booed
Paraguay beat Israel 4-2 in the men’s football tournament last night in Paris
Palestinian health authorities say more than 39,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s strikes via the air and the ground.
Russia and Belarus are both absent from Paris 2024 as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
Last week, the Palestinian Football Association submitted a motion to suspend Israel from international competition, which world governing body FIFA said it will consider following the end of the Games.
The Paris prosecutors office has confirmed that it has opened an investigation into death threats received by three Israeli athletes.
Anti-cybercrime officers are also investigating the release of athletes’ personal data on social networks on Friday and seeking to have it removed, prosecutors said in a statement.
In a statement on Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said that after an investigation, it had come to the conclusion that Iranian hackers were creating social media channels to publish personal information about members of the Israeli delegation and send them threatening messages.
On the same day, Israel’s foreign minister warned his French counterpart of a potential Iranian-backed plot to target Israeli athletes and tourists during the Paris Olympic Games.
It comes after the International Olympic Committee ignored some calls for Israel to be banned from this year’s Games over the ongoing war in Gaza
The Iranian mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday: ‘Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused.’
Israeli athletes at the Games are being escorted to and from events by elite tactical units and given 24-hour protection throughout the Olympics, officials say. Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, is helping with security.
‘Total support for the measures that are being taken by the French authorities,’ an Israeli diplomatic source said.
‘This sends an important message to individuals and organisations attempting to threaten athletes,’ the source added.
