Iran denies Israeli claims of threats to athletes at Paris Olympics
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TEHRAN– Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations has dismissed Israeli claims that Resistance groups pose a threat to Israeli athletes and tourists at the Paris Olympic Games, labeling the allegations as "lies."
"Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups. Lies and deceit cannot reverse the roles of the accuser and the accused," Ali Bahreini stated in a brief announcement.
This rebuttal followed reports that Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz had warned his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne about possible attacks on members of the Israeli delegation and Israeli tourists during the Olympics.
The Israeli claim coincides with a global campaign aimed at banning the regime's representatives from participating in the Games, due to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Pro-Palestine activists have launched the hashtag #BanIsraelFromParisOlympics on social media, urging organizers to exclude Israeli athletes from the Games, set to start on July 26.
The activists argue that "celebrating the human values of the Olympics contradicts Israel’s oppressive and genocidal practices against the Palestinians."
Protests have occurred in European countries, including France and Switzerland, outside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters, calling for the exclusion of Israeli sports teams from the Paris Olympics.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with Israeli actions since October 7 causing the deaths of at least 39,175 Palestinians, mainly women and children, and injuring 90,403 others.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel's ongoing actions in the embattled enclave have faced widespread global condemnation.
Over nine months into the Israeli war, large parts of Gaza are in ruins, exacerbated by a severe blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the dire and chaotic conditions in Gaza, describing the situation as "total lawlessness."
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