Israeli athletes participating in the Paris Olympics have been subjected to alleged death threats, antisemitic chants, and unsportsmanlike conduct by competitors, leading to increased security and scrutiny.
French police have opened an investigation into death threats received by three athletes as well as possible hate crimes during a soccer match over the weekend, the Paris prosecutor's office said in a statement on Sunday.
The investigation into the death threats will be led by the national anti-online hate body. A day before the opening ceremony, Israel warned France about its athletes being harassed online as well as the leak of their personal data, including blood tests and login credentials.
Israel blamed Iran-backed groups for the cyberattack. The Iranian mission to the United Nations pushed back, claiming, "Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused."
On Saturday, fans at the Israel-Paraguay soccer match at Paris Saint-Germain's stadium saw fans "dressed in black, masked and carrying Palestinian flags unfurl a banner saying 'Genocide Olympics,'" the prosecutor's office said. One person allegedly "made gestures of an anti-Semitic nature."
A reporter with AFP noted there were about 50 people in the crowd chanting in French against Israel, including "Israel Killer" and "Israel is killing Palestine's children." Some Israeli fans chanted back, "Free the hostages." There were also reports of boos heard during the Israeli national anthem.
As a result, Israeli athletes at the global games are being provided with 24-hour security and being escorted to and from events by elite tactical units. They are being guarded by French troops and Israeli Shin Bet agents. Israel has 88 people competing in the Olympics.
The animosity against Israeli athletes was also on display during a judo competition on Sunday.
Tajikistan's Nurali Emomali refused to shake hands as is customary after his win against Israel's Baruch Shmailov. Emomali was allegedly heard shouting "Allah Akbar" toward Shmailov. In his next round, Emomali injured his left arm when he took on Japan's Hifumi Abe, prompting a flood of social media posts that claimed Emomali had been struck by instant "karma" for his unsportsmanlike conduct against Emomali.
Despite there being strict rules in place on political statements, Palestinian boxer Waseem Abu Sal wore a white shirt with embroidered images of children playing sports being bombed during the opening ceremony. Abu Sal was one of two Palestinian flag bearers.
In 1995, the International Olympic Committee recognized the National Olympic Committee of Palestine as a member.
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