‘Terrorist Zionist Regime’: Iran Condemns ‘Reception and Protection’ of Israeli Delegation at Paris Olympics
Members of the Israeli Olympic delegation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Photo: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs/X
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned Israel’s participation in the 2024 Olympic Games and demanded that Israeli athletes be banned from this year’s Olympics in Paris because of the Jewish state’s ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
“Announcing the reception & protection of the Apartheid & terrorist Zionist regime’s convoy only means giving legitimacy to the child killers. They do not deserve to be present at the Paris Olympics because of the war against the innocent people of #Gaza,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X/Twitter. The ministry also shared a picture of the five Olympic rings, some of which bear images of wounded children. The middle ring is on fire and features an image of Israel’s national flag.
Iran’s widespread and systematic violations of human rights include torture, unlawful deaths, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, rape, sexual violence, unjust prosecution, and unfair trials. These violations have been confirmed by human rights groups, the United Nations and also the US Department of State. The Iranian regime also backs Hamas and has for years provided the terrorist organization that perpetrated the Oct. 7 deadly attacks in southern Israel with arms, funding and training. Iranian officials have continued to support Hamas and meet with its leaders as the terror group fights Israeli troops in Gaza.
Iran, which Western intelligence agencies have labeled the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, does not recognize Israel and prohibits Iranian athletes from competing against Israelis. Authorities imposed a lifetime ban on Iranian professional weightlifter Mostafa Rajaei in August 2023 after he shook hands with an Israeli competitor during a competition in Poland. Rajaei, who won the silver medal at the competition, is banned for life from all sports for what the head of Iran’s weightlifting federation described as “unacceptable and unforgivable” behavior.
Most of Israel’s Olympic delegation, which is comprised of 88 athletes, traveled to France on Monday ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday. Israeli judoka Peter Paltchik and Israeli-American swimmer Andi Murez will be Israel’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony. The Israeli delegation will have increased security this year at the Olympic, provided by Israel’s Shin Bet security agent and also French police, due to outrage and threats surrounding Israel’s participation in the 2024 Olympics amid the war in Gaza, which was sparked by the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7.
The Palestine Olympic Committee and Palestinian Football Association have made repeated attempts to have Israel banned from the Paris Olympics, and said on Monday that they sent another letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach asking him to exclude Israeli athletes from the Olympic Games.
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