Palestine Olympic Committee calls for Israel to be banned from games
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- The Palestine Olympic Committee (POC) has called for Israel to be banned from Paris Olympics 2024, citing the Israeli aggression on Gaza as a breach of the Olympic truce.
In an open letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, the POC “emphasized that Palestinian athletes, particularly those in Gaza, are denied safe passage and have suffered significantly due to ongoing conflict”.
It also said “approximately 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed, and the destruction of sports facilities exacerbates the plight of athletes who are already under severe restrictions”.
The committee also referenced the recent opinion by the UN’s top court finding Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal.
The POC noted that the IOC and FIFA have taken decisive action in the past against violations of the Olympic Truce.
They called for a similar response to the ongoing violations by Israel to ensure consistency and integrity in the approach of official sports committees toward international disputes.
The letter called on the IOC and FIFA to suspend the activities of Israeli teams in international competitions, including the upcoming Paris Olympics, as a measure to preserve the principles of the Olympic Charter and FIFA’s commitment to justice and human rights.
Several pro-Palestine protesters and activists in France and the United States, as well as Palestinian sports clubs had joined a call for the IOC to limit Israel’s official participation in the 2024 Summer Games over the war in Gaza.
Activists have said that if Israel is allowed to participate with no protests or opposition, especially this year as it is committing genocide in Gaza, the games will lose all meaning.
