Paris, France – As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Israeli athletes competing in the Paris Olympics have been subjected to threats, adding a layer of anxiety to their participation.
The threats come against the backdrop of heightened hostilities between Israel and Hamas, with significant casualties reported in Gaza.
Yael Arad, president of the Israeli National Olympic Committee, disclosed on Tuesday that team members have been targeted by “centralized” threats designed to instill “psychological terror.” While Arad did not provide specifics, the gravity of the situation is evident.
Paris prosecutors recently initiated an investigation into emailed death threats directed at Israeli athletes. Additionally, the national cybercrime agency is probing the leak of personal data of some athletes, which has since been removed from the internet.
The prosecutors are also examining instances of inciting racial hatred following discriminatory gestures aimed at Israeli athletes during a match against Paraguay.
Tom Reuveny, a 24-year-old windsurfer who secured a gold medal over the weekend, is among the athletes who have received threats.
“Politics should be put aside” during the Olympics, Reuveny emphasized during a memorial for the 11 Israeli athletes killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
He expressed his disappointment at the politicization of the Games, saying, “I don’t think any politics should be involved in sport, especially in the Olympic Games.”
“Unfortunately, there is a lot of politics involved — not in the Games — of the people who don’t want us to compete and don’t want us to be here. I’ve gotten quite a few messages and threats.”
While Israel advocates for the Olympics to remain a neutral space, the Palestinian delegation has utilized the platform to highlight the struggles of those in Gaza.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths.
Palestinian American Olympic swimmer Valerie Tarazi lamented the dehumanization of Palestinians, stating, “The thing that really hurts me is that people are looking at Palestinians as just numbers now.
The number of people that died. The number of people displaced. As athletes, we’re here just as everyone else. We want to compete. As people, we have lives. … We want to live in our homes, just like everyone else in the world.”
Global leaders have voiced concerns over the rising death toll in Gaza, urging Hamas and Israel to agree to a cease-fire. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains resolute, insisting on a “total victory” against Hamas.
The Paris Olympics occur amidst significant global challenges, including multiple wars, historic migration, and a worsening climate crisis. Recent killings of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in suspected Israeli strikes have further inflamed regional tensions.
Palestine’s Olympic team has called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban Israel from the Games, accusing it of violating the Olympic charter. Despite their demands, they have yet to receive a response from the IOC and plan to escalate the issue to higher sports courts.
Israeli athletes have faced hostility in stadiums, including jeers during the national anthem and heavy police escorts to events.
“It’s not easy to be an Israeli athlete in the international arena these days,” Arad acknowledged. Nonetheless, she emphasized the unifying spirit of the Olympics, describing it as “a bridge between people, between countries, between religions. And we are here to compete.”
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