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Speaker 0 argues that Israel's Olympic team is made up almost entirely of Israeli soldiers who cannot join the team without military service. She notes that in recent months Olympic athletes have signed bombs that were about to be dropped on Gaza, dedicated their medals to the IDF, and praised soldiers as heroes while bombs were being dropped on Gaza. The men's judo team reportedly visited an Israeli air force base, and the women's judo team visited an Israeli army base. One athlete posted a video of the IDF raising an Israeli flag on a Gaza beach after invading it with the caption, “salute your heroes.” Another uploaded an illustration of Gaza being destroyed. She claims Olympic athletes have repeatedly stated pride in being in the IDF and representing Israel during the current moment, implying endorsement of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and she says this goes beyond mandatory military service.
She contends that these athletes are proud to be in the Israeli Defense Forces and openly mix sports with politics, even posing with the Israeli army as it decimates Gaza and faces accusations of genocide in the world court. She asserts there is more incriminating evidence than she can fit in the video.
She describes the Wingate Facility as a site where several Israeli national sports teams are based and that it also serves as an IDF base for fitness training, illustrating how closely sports and the military are integrated. She claims the Israeli army publishes videos mixing Olympic athleticism with military service, suggesting they are indistinguishable from one another. She states that although these clubs don’t compete in the Olympics, Israeli football clubs are bound to the Olympic Charter, and they give the Israeli army free merchandise and share photos of the IDF wearing that merchandise while they are in tanks and bulldozers decimating Gaza. She says the clubs organize fundraisers and receptions for the IDF, and players visit wounded soldiers and post obituaries for those killed. One player reportedly said, “erase Gaza,” and another asked, “why haven’t 200 tons of bombs already been dropped on Gaza?” She questions what the Israeli football association does to reprimand them and claims nothing is done, with the behavior condoned in violation of the Olympic Charter and FIFA statutes.
Palestinians supposedly tried to raise these issues at FIFA Congress but were blocked by FIFA twice, with the head of the Israeli army allegedly working around the clock to torpedo these efforts. She suggests this explains why Israelis consider Infantino, FIFA president, and the president of UEFA as friends. She contrasts this with Russia’s ban from the Olympics, noting that Russia could compete only under a neutral flag and not support the war in Ukraine, while Israel’s actions during Gaza were not subject to the same conditions, despite the team being in the army and posting pro-genocide content. She recalls the ICJ ruling that Israel has a system of apartheid against Palestinians and argues the Olympic Committee takes no action, pointing to a double standard compared with Russia, South Africa, and Belarus. She claims Israeli soldiers violate the political neutrality of sports and the peace mission of the Olympics, and the Olympic Committee has failed to sanction or protect Palestinian athletes and facilities from Israeli bombs. She also asserts inaction regarding illegal Israeli clubs in the West Bank and Israeli officials threatening Palestinian sports officials with prison for speaking out.