Israel-Palestine conflict erupts at Paris Olympics during football game

The football match between Israel and Mali at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday may have ended in a draw, but it drew worldwide attention to everything but football.

Amid geopolitical tensions over the war in Gaza, the Olympics are marked by heightened security concerns, especially since the Israeli contingent has received death threats, warning them of a repeat of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack where an attack on the Israeli team by Palestinian militants left 12 victims dead, as well as five attackers.

When the Israel team played against Mali, France left no stone unturned regarding security. There was a massive security presence outside the stadium. The Israel team arrived under a heavy police escort, with motorbike riders at the front and about a dozen riot police vans behind. Armed police officers patrolled the Parc des Princes stadium, one with a rifle resting on his shoulder, according to the Associated Press.

How did the match play out?

Israel’s national anthem was loudly jeered before kick-off. Mali fans sang proudly when their anthem was played first. Mali, a mainly Muslim state, broke off ties with Israel in 1973 after the Yom Kippur war. As a former French colony, there is a large Malian diaspora in France and they came out in force to back their players.

When it came to Israel’s anthem, boos and whistles immediately rang out. Israeli players were booed each time they touched the ball. Security officials intervened in what appeared to be a heated argument between some fans. Amongst all the tension, there was some quality football being played too. The game finished 1-1, with Israel taking the lead after an own goal from defender Hamidou Diallo in the 57th minute. Mali equalized a few minutes later on Cheickna Doumbia’s powerful header, drawing wild celebrations from the large contingent of Mali fans.

The threats

A disturbing video surfaced just days before the Paris Olympics, showing a masked figure issuing ominous threats. The video, which has gone viral on social media, warned of “rivers of blood” in Paris due to France’s support for Israel. The man, dressed in dark clothing and displaying a Palestinian flag, held up a fake severed head. Hamas has denied any involvement.

In the months preceding the Paris games, Israeli athletes have received numerous death threats via email and telephone. A group self-identified as “the People’s Defense Organization” sent an email to 15 athletes claiming that “it intends to harm any Israeli presence at the Olympics” and repeat the 1972 Munich Olympics attack. “You will be awaiting attack at every moment — in the airport, the hotel, and the streets which belong to only us,” the message warned.

As a result of the threats, France’s Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, had said Israeli athletes would be protected 24 hours a day by elite police unit GIGN, which is in charge of counterterrorism and the protection of government officials, among other things.

Israeli contingent

Israel have sent a team of 88 athletes to participate in the Games. Israel Olympic Committee President Yael Arad called it a “victory” that so many athletes were able to go.

The Israeli contingent could go despite the Palestine Olympic Committee sending a letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach asking him to ban Israel, citing Israeli bombings in Gaza as a breach of the Olympic truce.

The letter “emphasized that Palestinian athletes, particularly those in Gaza, are denied safe passage and have suffered significantly due to ongoing conflict.”

It said, “Approximately 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed, and the destruction of sports facilities exacerbates the plight of athletes who are already under severe restrictions.”

Several Israeli competitors are in contention for medals, including taekwondo athlete Avishag Semberg, who was a bronze medallist at the 2020 Olympics, gymnast Artem Dolgopyat, who secured Israel its first gymnastics gold in 2020, and Lanir, a 2023 world champion in her category.

Palestine contingent

Despite much of their sporting infrastructure, clubs, and institutions demolished according to Nader Jayousi, the technical director at the Palestine Olympic Committee, Palestine will be represented by 8 athletes at the Paris Games. They will compete in boxing, judo, swimming, shooting, track and field, and taekwondo.

Six out of the eight athletes representing Palestine though, were born elsewhere — Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Germany, Chile and the United States.

Palestine are yet to medal at the Olympics.

Protests during the competition

As was evident during the match between Israel and Mali, we’re bound to see Palestine supporters and flags at the Olympics though it’s yet to be seen if there will be full-blown protests.

Jayousi declined to say whether clear guidelines have been issued to Palestinian athletes about whether they would be expected to drop out of competition rather than face Israelis.

“Let’s see what the draws will put our athletes against,” he said. “We know what we want to do, but we don’t have to say everything that we want to do.”

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