French police are currently investigating death threats that have been received by three Israeli Olympic athletes in Paris. This alarming development has added to the already heightened security concerns surrounding Israel’s delegation, which consists of nearly 90 athletes – one of the largest groups ever sent to the Olympics by the country.
Organizers have taken steps to provide 24/7 security for Israeli athletes both in the Olympic Village and during their transit to various Olympic venues. This decision was made in response to the presence of anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters at several events.
This troubling situation comes on the heels of a viral video that falsely claimed to show a Hamas member threatening violence in Paris due to Israel’s participation in the Olympics. Researchers have since determined that the video was part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Just days ago, 15 Israeli Olympians received threatening phone calls and emails warning of violence if they attended the Paris Olympics. One message even referenced the tragic events of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were killed.
In a separate incident, the personal data of Israeli delegation members was leaked on social media, raising further concerns about their safety. This leak occurred shortly after Israel’s foreign minister warned of potential Iranian threats targeting Israeli athletes and attendees at the Paris Olympics.
In response to these allegations, the Iranian mission to the United Nations denied any involvement in terrorist activities and emphasized that such acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups.