Several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the Paris Olympics organizers’ headquarters calling for limiting Israel’s participation in the Summer Games in light of the war in Gaza. About 300 people attended the rally waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israel’s participation. Protesters cited the example of Russian athletes competing under a neutral flag due to the Ukraine invasion and called for the International Olympic Committee to apply the same protocol for Israeli athletes.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently backed the IOC’s decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag despite the invasion of Ukraine. He defended the participation of Israeli athletes under their country’s flag amidst the offensive in Gaza. The protests in Paris come in the wake of pro-Palestinian students staging demonstrations and attempting to occupy campus buildings at France’s prestigious universities. Last week, 50 students were removed from the Sorbonne university after occupying the main courtyard, and protests broke out at Sciences Po.
The protests stem from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in over 34,000 Palestinians being killed, according to health officials in Gaza. While some argue that Israel is a victim responding to a terrorist attack, others criticize Israel’s actions and call for a more neutral stance from the Olympics. Additional demonstrations have taken place in Paris, including a tense standoff between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators outside Sciences Po, which was resolved peacefully after an agreement was reached with the administration.
The Olympic Games in Paris are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8. The protests highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the participation of Israeli athletes in the Olympics in light of the conflict in Gaza. The demonstrations reflect a larger conversation about the role of sports in politics and the call for neutrality and inclusivity in international sporting events. The debate continues as the Paris Olympics approach, with protesters advocating for a reevaluation of Israel’s participation and the application of a protocol similar to that of Russian athletes in light of geopolitical conflicts.
