A group of antisemitic protesters brazenly chanted “Heil Hitler” at the Israeli men’s soccer team as they were set to face off against Paraguay during the Paris Olympics over the weekend.
The group shamelessly made their presence known from the stands by chanting hateful rhetoric and booing the Israeli team as they stood for their national anthem at the Parc des Princes on Saturday night.
Swarms of protesters were seen waving Palestinian flags — with some even performing the Nazi salute during their heinous display of hatred. Multiple people were also seen brandishing a large sign that read “Genocide Olympics.”
The anti-Israel demonstrators were eventually kicked out of the stadium, and no other disruptions were reported.
Paraguay defeated Israel in the Group D match 4-2.
“During the men’s football match between Israel and Paraguay at the Parc des Princes on 27 July, a banner bearing a political message was displayed, and anti-Semitic gestures were made,” a Paris Olympic organizer told Sky News.
“Paris 2024 strongly condemns these acts. A complaint has been lodged by Paris 2024, which is at the disposal of the authorities to assist with the investigation.”
This marks the second time since the Olympics began that the Israeli soccer club has faced protesters during their match.
The team was greeted by the same display of hatred last Wednesday when they faced off against Mali.
Demonstrators during Israel’s match against Mali were seen waving Palestinian flags while booing and whistling during their anthem.
Following their match against Mali, the Israeli team’s head coach, Guy Luzon, said the protest against his team and Israel would only be used as fuel to perform better on the field.
“Bring on the loudest protests,” Luzon told Ynet News. “They will make us try harder.”
The horrific shows of antisemitism come as French police have launched an investigation into death threats received by three Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games, according to Sky News.
Security concerns for the Israeli team remain a significant priority for Olympic organizers as the nation is weeks away from entering 10 months of war against Hamas.
Israeli athletes in Paris are being escorted to and from events by elite tactical units and have been given 24-hour protection, officials told Sky News.
Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, is also assisting with security for their fellow countrymen and other Israeli diplomats attending the games.
Shin Bet is said to have “total support for the measures that are being taken by the French authorities,” a source told the outlet.
“This sends an important message to individuals and organizations attempting to threaten athletes,” the source added.
To ensure the safety of every country participating in the Olympics, France is deploying 35,000 officers each day, and 45,000 were deployed for the opening ceremonies.
France also receives help from 40 countries that have sent nearly 2,000 reinforcements.
On Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said that they discovered Iranian hackers were creating fake social media channels to publish personal information about members of the Israeli delegation at the Paris Olympics and were sending them threatening messages, according to Ynet News.
That same day, Israel’s foreign minister warned his French counterpart of a potential Iranian-backed plot to target Israeli athletes and tourists during the Games.
In response to the claims, the Iranian mission to the United Nations said in a statement that “Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused.”
Israeli athletes have been the target of terrorist attacks during the Olympic games in the past.
Eleven Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games.
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