SCORES of fans anticipating the kick-off of the 2024 Olympics have expressed displeasure with the participation of Israeli athletes amid the ongoing devastating war by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against civilians in Gaza.
Many took issue with France’s welcoming message for the Israeli delegation, which arrived in the European country for the Olympics on Monday.
“The Israeli delegation is welcome in France,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne said at their arrival.
This comes as a far-left lawmaker called for the exclusion of the Israeli delegation from the Games.
Sejourne, however, described the demand as “irresponsible and dangerous.”
The Israeli delegation’s participation triggered a protest in Paris on Saturday for those against the decision, standing in solidarity with Palestine.
On X, many people have called on the Olympics to ban Israel from participating in the competition.
These netizens also shared photos depicting IOF’s aggression and merciless targeting of civilians in Gaza.
“Ban the country committing genocide, Israel, from the Olympic Games! “Gaza,” one writer on X said.
“The cries of the children of Gaza resonate in our hearts. Excluding Israel from the Olympic Games is an act in favour of humanity and justice,” another one wrote.
Amid the situation, France vows that it has stepped up security in Paris, and France 24 reported on Monday that the Israeli delegation “will be subject to strict security protocols.”
IOF has been triggering international uproar for its merciless campaigns against civilians in Gaza. Since 7 October, the IOF has launched a series of massacres that killed over 39,090 Palestinians.
An additional 90,147 individuals have sustained injuries, including those still missing under the rubble, British journal, The Lancet has predicted that the true death toll is closer to 186,000.
Eighteen-Eleven Media