Activists launched a global campaign on social media under the slogan “Olympics Without Israel” to prevent the Zionist entity from participating in the Summer Olympics in Paris, in support of the Palestinian people amid the genocide waged by the occupation since October 7, 2023.
The activists stated: “While the world celebrates the spirit of the Olympics in Paris 2024, we cannot ignore the oppressive practices and genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinians. How can we celebrate human values while human rights are being brutally violated?” They added that “Olympics Without Israel” is a demand for everyone who believes in justice and humanity.
The Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
Protesters: “Boycott Israel”
Supporters of Palestine organized demonstrations in several countries worldwide, calling for the prevention of the Zionist entity from participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In Paris, protesters demanded the exclusion of the Israeli delegation from the Olympic Games hosted by France. The demonstrators accused the West of not taking sufficient measures to push Israel to stop the genocide, according to “Aljazeera Net.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Paris 2024 Olympic organizing committee's headquarters, demanding the occupation state be banned from participating in the Olympic Games.
Nicolas Shahshahani, a member of the French European organization, told “Associated Press”: I am pleased to draw a comparison with what happened in the Olympics decades ago, in 1964, for example, when apartheid South Africa was expelled from the Olympic Games because of its blatant racism.
Protesters were seen chanting “Ban Israel from the Olympics,” waving the Palestinian flag in front of the Olympic organizing committee's headquarters, with police presence at the scene, according to “Euronews.”
In Switzerland, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the International Olympic Committee's headquarters in Lausanne, demanding the prevention of Israel from participating in this year's Olympic Games.
The protesters chanted anti-Zionist slogans in English and French, raising Palestinian flags and holding banners calling to “ban criminals from the Olympics,” according to the “Anadolu Agency.”
Protesters said that previously banning Russia and Belarus from the Olympics while allowing Israel to participate this year reflects double standards.
Message from the Islamic Forum of Europe
The Islamic Forum of Europe called on the Olympic Committee to prevent the Zionist entity from participating in the Paris Olympics and to suspend its membership in international sports institutions due to its commission of war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people.
In an urgent message sent by its members and representatives from more than 15 European countries, including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Sweden, and Greece, to the President of the Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, the forum urged the exclusion of the occupying state from international sports events that promote messages of love and peace among nations. This is contrary to the massacres and atrocities committed by the occupation state against civilians in the Gaza Strip for over nine months, according to the “Palestinian News Agency.”
In its message, the forum emphasized that it is unacceptable for Israel to participate in sports while Palestinians continue to suffer and die without hope. It stressed that the international community's failure to provide sufficient humanitarian aid and enforce a ceasefire is causing greater harm to the world.
Legal Report: “Israel” Violates “FIFA” Rules
On the legal front, international law and human rights lawyers have confirmed that Israel should be banned from participating in any football-related activities due to its violations of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) regulations amid the war in Gaza.
A report issued by them, according to “France 24,” stated that there is no doubt that Israel's conduct in Palestine has undermined and continues to undermine FIFA's objectives. Israel has violated the internationally recognized human rights of Palestinians, contrary to Article (3). It has discriminated against and continues to discriminate against Palestinians based on race, national origin, and birth, in direct violation of Article (4/1). Its conduct undermines the humanitarian goals in Article (5.1/b), and Israel's conduct warrants condemnation in line with the stance taken by FIFA regarding similar egregious violations of its objectives and internationally recognized human rights.
FIFA Responds to Palestine's Request
In the same context, FIFA announced the postponement of its consideration of the Palestinian Football Association's request to suspend the Israeli Football Association internationally until August 31.
FIFA, in an official message to the Palestinian Football Association, according to the “Palestinian News Agency,” stated that due to the extension of the deadline for submitting legal statements from both associations, which was requested separately by them, and due to the need for more time by the concerned advisors to study the legal positions presented by the two associations, it has been decided to postpone the delivery of the legal opinion until a date no later than the end of August.
The Palestinian Football Association had submitted a request last May to exclude the occupying state due to the ongoing aggression in Gaza, while FIFA ordered a legal assessment of the situation and promised to consider the matter at an extraordinary council meeting this July.
It is noteworthy that FIFA previously suspended South Africa in 1961 due to apartheid policies, Yugoslavia in 1992 due to the Balkan Wars, and more recently Russia in 2022 due to the Ukraine conflict.
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