Israeli Olympic Team Targeted by Demonstrators Chanting 'Heil Hitler' and Performing Nazi Salutes

At the Paris Olympics on Saturday night, anti-Israel demonstrators brandishing Palestinian flags and a sign that read “Genocide Olympics” chanted “Heil Hitler” and performed the Nazi salute as the Israeli national anthem played before the Israeli men’s soccer team faced Paraguay. This disturbing incident marks another instance of escalating tensions and anti-Israel sentiments at the games.

During the Israeli men's team’s opening game against Mali, which ended in a 1-1 tie, anti-Israel demonstrators booed throughout the playing of the Israeli national anthem. The day prior, Israel team coach Guy Luzon was informed about potential protests and responded defiantly, “Bring on the loudest protests. They will make us try harder.”

Key Points:

• Anti-Israel Demonstrations: Protesters chanted “Heil Hitler” and performed Nazi salutes during the Israeli national anthem at the soccer match.

• Previous Incidents: Similar protests occurred during Israel's opening game against Mali.

• Athlete Tensions: Nurali Emomali, a judo competitor from Tajikistan, refused to shake hands with Israeli competitor Baruch Shmailov after winning a match and allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar.”

On Sunday, after defeating Israeli judoka Baruch Shmailov, Tajikistan’s Nurali Emomali refused to shake hands, reportedly yelling “Allahu Akbar.” In a subsequent match against Japan’s Hifumi Abe, Emomali suffered a dislocated shoulder, which some observers described as “karma.”

The Times of Israel reported that Israel’s Olympic athletes received death threats in mid-July from an entity calling itself “the People’s Defense Organization,” which vowed to target Israeli presence at the Olympics, drawing disturbing parallels to the Munich massacre of 1972.

The threats included ominous messages stating, “The fate of the Zionists will be like the fate of the Palestinians in Gaza if the Zionists continue to threaten everyone,” and specific death threats to Israeli athletes, including invitations to their own funerals.

In 1972, the Munich Olympics were marred by a tragic attack when eight Palestinian terrorists from Black September, an affiliate of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), killed two Israeli athletes and took nine others hostage, who were later murdered during a failed rescue attempt. Many of the Israeli athletes had already lost family members in the Holocaust. Avery Brundage, the president of the Olympic Committee at the time, controversially insisted that the Games continue despite the unfolding tragedy.

The recurrence of such threats and demonstrations against Israeli athletes at the Paris Olympics is a sobering reminder of the ongoing animosity and dangers they face. The Olympic Games, meant to be a symbol of global unity and peace, are once again overshadowed by political and ethnic conflicts.

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