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Enhanced Security for Israeli Athletes at Paris Games Amid Regional Tensions

Explore the heightened security measures implemented for Israeli athletes at the Paris Games, designed to ensure their safety amid ongoing regional tensions. Learn how these precautions aim to foster a secure environment for all participants.

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Increased Security Measures for Israeli Athletes Ahead of Paris Games

Israeli athletes, who have been accustomed to moving around the Paris Games with a security detail akin to that of a head of state, are set to receive even more stringent protection in light of recent assassinations of key leaders from both Hezbollah and Hamas. These developments have raised alarms among security officials regarding the potential risks to the athletes’ safety.

The situation escalated on Saturday when a rocket launched from Lebanon struck a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a village populated by Arab Druze in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. In response, Israel attributed the deadly attack to Hezbollah, although the militant group denied any involvement. The tensions further heightened on Tuesday when an Israeli airstrike targeted and killed a Hezbollah commander near Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, as a retaliatory measure.

The regional instability took a new turn on Wednesday morning, with Hamas and Iran accusing Israel of assassinating Ismail Haniyeh, one of the most prominent leaders within Hamas. To date, Israel has not confirmed or commented on this alleged killing.

Shmulik Philosof, a former head of a Shin Bet unit responsible for the security of Israeli delegations, indicated that the threat posed by Hezbollah, which is known for its capabilities to operate internationally, should undoubtedly lead to an increase in the security measures for the Israeli delegation participating in the summer Olympics.

Concerns for the Israeli team, which has been under tight security at every Olympic event since the tragic Munich Olympics in 1972, have escalated significantly since the horrific terrorist attacks on October 7, the ensuing war in Gaza, widespread global protests, and ongoing threats to their safety.

Prior to their departure for Paris, Israeli athletes reported receiving anonymous emails containing ominous threats, stating, “We intend to repeat the events of Munich 1972.”

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