Simultaneously with the ongoing Summer Olympics in Paris, the teams and soldier-athletes of the Israeli regime participated in these sports scenes with their flag and took to the field.
These competitions went beyond being a sporting event and became an opportunity for a political show by the Israeli regime's propaganda machines. They were able to use this to clearly downplay and normalize Israel's war crimes in the news. Several contradictions and points of consideration are mentioned regarding Israel's illegitimate presence at the Olympics:
1. Olympics, an opportunity for more killing
While Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his video message asked countries to put down their arms in line with the Olympic ceasefire, less than 24 hours later, Israeli regime forces launched airstrikes on a school near Deir al-Balah in Gaza, killing at least 30 Palestinians and injuring over 100 people.
These crimes have continued throughout the Olympics so far, and at the same time, the Israeli regime has taken advantage of the Olympic opportunity to advance its aggression in greater media silence.
2. Olympics for propaganda
The Israeli regime uses sports as a tool to cover up its crimes and "sports-wash" them. This presence helps the Israeli regime to legitimize its crimes and use them as a soft power globally. The presence of the Israeli team at the 2024 Paris Olympics is also considered a major propaganda victory for Benjamin Netanyahu.
3. The case of Russia and IOC's double standards
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned Russia due to the Ukraine war, it has not taken similar action against Israel, which has bombed sports facilities and killed a large number of athletes and coaches, including Olympians.
On the other hand, the attacks on Gaza have led to widespread calls for Israel to be banned from participating in sports competitions. The IOC has responded by shirking responsibility and issuing superficial statements. Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, stated: "We are not political; we try to bring athletes together."
4. Unveiling of soldier-athletes
According to the information and images released, some of the Israeli athletes are war criminals from the Gaza war. Karim Zidan, a journalist, wrote: "Among the 88 Israeli athletes participating in the Paris Olympics, at least 30 have openly supported the war and the Israeli Defense Forces IDF."
However, the presence of the Israeli regime has been met with widespread protests from anti-war fans and human rights activists. They believe that the international community, under pressure from the US and the West, has been unable to take serious action against Israel's human rights violations.
Of course, popular groups have not been idle, and in Paris, they have
drawn more attention to the Israeli regime's presence at the Olympics.
Pro-Palestinian graffiti such as "Long live Palestine" and "Freedom for
Gaza" can be seen throughout the city.
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