Paris 2024 officials have ordered an investigation into alleged death threats and anti-Semitic gestures directed at Israeli athletes during the Olympics.
The gestures are known to have been made during Israel’s men’s soccer match against Paraguay in Paris last night.
Organisers strongly condemned the actions and confirmed to Sky News that an official complaint had been filed with the French authorities.
During Paraguay’s 4-2 victory over Israel, banners reading “Genocide Olympics” were displayed in the crowd, while the Israeli national anthem was also booed.
This comes after the International Olympic Committee ignored some calls for Israel to be banned from this year’s Games due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Banners reading “Genocide Olympics” (pictured) were also displayed in the stadium, while the Israeli national anthem was booed.
Paraguay beat Israel 4-2 in the men’s soccer tournament last night in Paris
Palestinian health officials say more than 39,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli air and ground attacks.
Russia and Belarus will be absent from Paris 2024 due to the war in Ukraine.
Last week, the Palestinian Football Association submitted a motion to suspend Israel from international competition, something world governing body FIFA said it would consider once the Games are over.
The Paris prosecutor’s office has confirmed that it has opened an investigation into death threats received by three Israeli athletes.
Cybercrime officers are also investigating the posting of athletes’ personal data on social media on Friday and are seeking to have it removed, prosecutors said in a statement.
In a statement Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said that after an investigation, it concluded that Iranian hackers were creating social media channels to post personal information about members of the Israeli delegation and send them threatening messages.
That same day, Israel’s foreign minister warned his French counterpart of a possible Iranian-backed plot to attack Israeli athletes and tourists during the Paris Olympics.
This comes after the International Olympic Committee ignored some calls for Israel to be banned from this year’s Games due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Iran’s 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 change the roles of the plaintiff and the accused.”
Israeli athletes taking part in the Games are being escorted to and from events by elite tactical units and are being provided with round-the-clock protection during the Olympics, officials said. Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, is assisting with security.
“I fully support the measures being taken by the French authorities,” said an Israeli diplomatic source.
“This sends an important message to people and organisations who try to threaten athletes,” the source added.
