AhlulBayt News Agency: Switzerland’s under-23 fencing team protested against Israel’s actions in Gaza by turning their backs to the Israeli anthem during the medal ceremony at the European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
During the awards ceremony on Saturday, the Swiss silver medalists turned away from the Israeli gold medalists as their anthem played, highlighting opposition to the regime's ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli fencer Alon Sarid told Ynet that although the teams exchanged handshakes before the match, some members avoided interaction following the final. He noted that the Israeli athletes only became aware of the Swiss protest after seeing photos post-ceremony.
This silent protest joins a growing trend of athletes condemning Israeli actions against Palestinians. However, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Simon Geissbühler, expressed disapproval of the athletes' gesture, stating that the act was not pre-approved and promising to address the matter upon their return.
The Swiss Fencing Federation also issued an apology regarding the incident.
While Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized the Swiss team's protest as "disrespectful," many individuals praised the athletes for silently standing in solidarity with the victims of Gaza’s ongoing devastation, where over 52,243 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
In a related instance, Iraq’s national fencing team withdrew from a match against Israel at the World Fencing Championship in Istanbul in May 2023, citing the Iraqi parliament’s anti-normalization law and solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
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