Activists call for boycott of Olympics as Israeli forces kill Gaza athletes

Activists have called for a boycott of the upcoming Olympics in Paris over Israel’s participation in the games, following the killing of a number of prominent sports figures, including children, in Gaza. 

Estimates from activists in Gaza state that around 350 sports players and athletes have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war on the enclave on 7 October. The figure includes at least 250 footballers.

This week, a renowned goal keeper, Shadi Abu-Alarraj, from Khan Younis, was killed in Israel’s attack on Al Mawasi according to local Palestinian media. The deadly attack on the area killed at least 90 Palestinians who were sheltering in the area, with the Palestinian ministry of health saying half of those killed were women and children.

Online, tributes poured in for the 36-year-old, with many remembering him for his skill.

Others questioned why Israeli forces and sports teams have not been held accountable, or punished, for their attacks on Palestinian sports personalities.

"Why hasn’t the Israeli Football Association been suspended yet, as they did with Russia?" one person questioned.

Earlier this week, 11-year-old Yazan Al-Sarsawi was also killed by Israeli fire in a direct shot to the head during an Israeli operation in Shujaiyya, east of Gaza City.

According to accounts shared online, Al-Sarsawi dreamed of playing professionally in the European league. He was also a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Waseem Ayman Abu Deeb, a member of the Palestinian Athletics Team was also killed this week, after Israeli forces bombed his family home in Khan Younis.

Journalists and social media users highlighted that Abu Deeb had participated in the Arab under 20’s Championship in Jordan in 2018, the West Asian Championship for men and women in Jordan in 2018 , the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 as well as the Arab Championship for men and women in Tunisia in 2021.

Palestinians shared images of the athletes across social media sites.

Activists and campaigners have since called for the Olympics to ban Israel, while others have called for the boycotting on the event.

"No platform for genocide at the Olympics! The IOC must ban Israel, boycott Israel and Blacklist Israel," one person wrote on social media platform X.

"Boycott the Olympics, the IOC is complicit. Israel is somehow allowed to compete on an international stage while committing ghoulish crimes against humanity like this," another said.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 38,584 Palestinians since 7 October and wounded at least 88,881 others in the same time frame.

The war has levelled entire neighbourhoods and destroyed much of the Strip’s infrastructure.