A group of anti-Semitic protesters boldly shouted “Heil Hitler” at the Israeli men's soccer team as they were scheduled to play Paraguay at the Paris Olympics over the weekend.
The group made their presence known shamelessly from the stands at Parc des Princes on Saturday night, chanting hateful slurs and booing the Israeli team as they stood for the national anthem.
Crowds of protesters were seen waving Palestinian flags, some firing Nazi salutes in a display of hatred, and several brandished large signs reading “Genocide Olympics.”
Anti-Israel protesters were eventually chased out of the stadium and no other disturbances were reported.
Paraguay defeated Israel 4-2 in a Group D match.
“Banners with political messages were displayed and anti-Semitic gestures were made during the men's football match between Israel and Paraguay at the Parc des Princes on July 27,” Paris Olympics organizers told Sky News.
“Paris 2024 strongly condemns these actions. Paris 2024 has filed a complaint and the authorities will cooperate with the investigation.”
This is the second time since the Olympics began that the Israeli soccer team has faced protests during a match.
The team received similar hateful looks when they played against Mali last Wednesday.
During the Israel-Mali match, protesters waved Palestinian flags and booed and whistled while the Palestinian national anthem was played.
Israel coach Guy Luzon said after the match against Mali that his team and the protests against Israel would only be used as motivation to perform better on the field.
“Have the biggest protests,” Luzon told Ynet News. “They will motivate us to try harder.”
The horrific display of anti-Semitism comes as French police launch an investigation into death threats received by three Israeli athletes at the Olympics, according to Sky News.
With just weeks to go before Israel enters a 10-month war with Hamas, concerns about the safety of the Israeli team remain a key priority for Olympic organizers.
Israeli athletes in Paris are being escorted to the competition venues by elite tactical units and are under round-the-clock security, officials told Sky News.
The Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, is also helping to provide security for Israeli diplomats and fellow Israelis attending the Olympics.
The source told the media that the Shin Bet “fully supports the measures being taken by the French authorities.”
“This sends an important message to individuals and organisations who seek to intimidate athletes,” the source added.
France is deploying 35,000 police officers each day to ensure security for the nations taking part in the Olympics, with 45,000 deployed to the opening ceremony.
France has also received help from 40 countries which have sent reinforcements of around 2,000 troops.
Israel's National Cyber Agency said on Thursday it had discovered that Iranian hackers had created fake social media channels to publish personal information of members of the Israeli delegation to the Paris Olympics and send threatening messages, according to Ynet News.
On the same day, Israel's foreign minister warned his French counterpart about a possible Iranian-backed plot to target Israeli athletes and tourists during the Olympics.
In response to this claim, the Iranian mission to the United Nations said in a statement: “Terrorist acts are not part of the principles of resistance organisation. Lies and deception cannot be used to reverse the roles of plaintiff and defendant.”
Israeli athletes have been the target of terrorist attacks during the Olympics in the past.
At the 1972 Munich Games, 11 Israeli athletes and one German police officer were killed by Palestinian terrorists.
