French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné affirmed today that the Israeli delegation will be welcome for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, after insubordinate deputies pointed out the contrary due to the crimes in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
Séjourné stressed on social networks that France will ensure the safety of all participants in the five rings event, which will begin on Friday.
Over the weekend, during a mobilization in favor of Palestine, the deputy of La France Insoumise (LFI) Thomas Portes said that Israeli athletes will not be welcome on French soil.
Portes criticized the policy of double standards, alluding to the restrictions on the presence of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games because of the war in Ukraine.
Some 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israel’s indiscriminate shelling and ground operations in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attack.
LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard advocated diplomatic pressure to stop the crimes in the Strip.
In particular, he advocated French government pressure on the International Olympic Committee to make Israeli athletes compete under a neutral flag and not to play their anthem if they win titles, sanctions similar to those imposed on Russia.
The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, also insisted on the security of the Israeli delegation, to which he guaranteed permanent protection.
