The Palestinian delegation participating in the Paris Olympics confirmed yesterday, Sunday, that its participation will represent a “platform” to denounce the war on Gaza, during a ceremony organized by the French Consulate General. Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Farseen Aghabekian Shahin, said during the ceremony, which was held in the city of Ramallah in the center of the occupied West Bank, that “representing Palestine in the Paris Olympics is considered a victory.”
The Palestinian Olympic delegation includes more than twenty members, including eight male and female Olympic players and two Paralympic players, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee.
The Palestinian sports delegation participates in individual athletics, swimming, taekwondo, judo, boxing and shooting.
Most of the participants live abroad and hold foreign nationalities in addition to Palestinian ones.
For his part, the head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, Lieutenant General Jibril Rajoub, said: “We are determined to participate in these individual and group games, because we are convinced that sports are the most effective in convincing the world of our right to live freely in our homeland, Palestine, which includes the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.”
Rajoub expressed his hope that “French President Emmanuel Macron will recognize the independent Palestinian state so that the Palestinians feel that they are not alone.”
According to Rajoub, during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip for more than nine months, regarding 400 athletes and workers in the field were killed, out of 38,584 people killed during the same period.
The Palestinian delegation includes swimmer Valerie Tarazi, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the Palestinian.
During the ceremony, Tarzi wore the traditional Palestinian costume to express her Palestinian “origin,” according to what she told Agence France-Presse.
“Being there in Paris in the name of Palestine is very important,” added Tarzi, 24. “Our participation in a global swimming event at a time when there are no places to train is something out of the blue.”
She said: “My heart aches for them every day, and that is why I came to Palestine and I do not care regarding the risks.”
The Palestinian swimmer explained that she has relatives in the Gaza Strip and she talks to them daily.
Terzi won several gold and silver medals at the Arab Games in Algeria last year following participating in swimming races in various categories.
For his part, the French Consul General in Jerusalem, Nicolas Kassianides, told Agence France-Presse: “We know that Palestinian sports suffered great losses in the war, including the death of Majed Abu Maraheel, whose name was engraved in the history of the 1996 Olympic Games and who died in Gaza.”
Abu Maraheel died last June in Gaza due to kidney failure and did not receive proper treatment due to the war in Gaza.
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The Palestinian delegation participating in the Paris Olympics confirmed on Sunday that their participation would serve as a platform to denounce the war on Gaza. This was stated during a ceremony organized by the French Consulate General. Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Farseen Aghabekian Shahin, said during the ceremony, held in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, that “representing Palestine in the Paris Olympics is considered a victory.”
The Palestinian Olympic delegation includes over twenty members, including eight male and female Olympic athletes and two Paralympic athletes, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee.
The Palestinian sports delegation is participating in individual athletics, swimming, taekwondo, judo, boxing, and shooting.
Most of the participants reside abroad and hold foreign nationalities in addition to Palestinian ones.
The head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, Lieutenant General Jibril Rajoub, said: “We are determined to participate in these individual and group games because we are convinced that sports are the most effective way to convince the world of our right to live freely in our homeland, Palestine, which includes the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.”
Rajoub expressed his hope that “French President Emmanuel Macron will recognize the independent Palestinian state so that Palestinians feel they are not alone.”
According to Rajoub, during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which has lasted for over nine months, regarding 400 athletes and sports workers were killed out of a total of 38,584 deaths during the same period.
The Palestinian delegation includes swimmer Valerie Tarazi, who holds American citizenship in addition to Palestinian citizenship.
During the ceremony, Tarzi wore the traditional Palestinian costume to express her Palestinian “origin,” according to what she told Agence France-Presse.
“Being there in Paris in the name of Palestine is very important,” added Tarzi, 24. “Our participation in a global swimming event at a time when there are no places to train is something out of the blue.”
She said: “My heart aches for them every day, and that is why I came to Palestine and I do not care regarding the risks.”
The Palestinian swimmer explained that she has relatives in the Gaza Strip and she speaks to them daily.
Terzi won several gold and silver medals at the Arab Games in Algeria last year following participating in swimming races in various categories.
The French Consul General in Jerusalem, Nicolas Kassianides, told Agence France-Presse: “We know that Palestinian sports suffered great losses in the war, including the death of Majed Abu Maraheel, whose name was engraved in the history of the 1996 Olympic Games and who died in Gaza.”
Abu Maraheel died last June in Gaza due to kidney failure and did not receive proper treatment due to the war in Gaza.
Palestine to Use Paris Olympics as Platform to Denounce Gaza War
The Palestinian delegation participating in the Paris Olympics has announced that their participation will serve as a platform to denounce the ongoing war on Gaza. This declaration came during a ceremony organized by the French Consulate General in Ramallah, the occupied West Bank.
A Victory for Palestine
Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Farseen Aghabekian Shahin, emphasized the significance of their participation, stating that “representing Palestine in the Paris Olympics is considered a victory.” This sentiment reflects the resilience of Palestinian athletes amidst the ongoing conflict.
Palestinian Delegation and its Composition
The Palestinian Olympic delegation consists of over twenty members, including eight male and female Olympians and two Paralympians, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee.
The delegation spans various sports:
- Athletics
- Swimming
- Taekwondo
- Judo
- Boxing
- Shooting
Notably, a significant portion of the participants reside abroad and hold foreign nationalities alongside their Palestinian citizenship.
Sports as a Tool for Advocacy
The head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, Lieutenant General Jibril Rajoub, expressed the delegation’s commitment to participation, stating, “We are determined to participate in these individual and group games, because we are convinced that sports are the most effective in convincing the world of our right to live freely in our homeland, Palestine, which includes the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.”
Recognition of Palestinian State and International Support
Rajoub hopes that French President Emmanuel Macron will recognize the independent Palestinian state during the Olympics. This recognition is seen as a crucial step towards Palestinian empowerment and international support.
The Impact of the War on Gazan Athletes
Rajoub highlighted the devastating impact of the prolonged war on Gaza, revealing that approximately 400 athletes and sports workers have been killed during the nine-month conflict. This figure represents a significant loss to Palestinian sports and underscores the immense challenges faced by athletes in Gaza.
Valerie Tarzi: A Symbol of Resilience
The Palestinian delegation includes swimmer Valerie Tarzi, a dual citizen of the United States and Palestine. She embodies the spirit of resilience and determination, competing internationally despite the hardships faced by her compatriots.
Tarzi donned the traditional Palestinian costume during the ceremony in Ramallah, emphasizing her strong cultural identity. She shared her poignant perspective with Agence France-Presse: “Being there in Paris in the name of Palestine is very important. Our participation in a global swimming event at a time when there are no places to train is something out of the blue.”
Her heartfelt words convey the sacrifices she makes for her homeland: “My heart aches for them every day, and that is why I came to Palestine and I do not care regarding the risks.”
Tarzi’s dedication and determination are inspiring, showcasing the power of sport to transcend challenges and advocate for a cause.
The French Consulate’s Recognition of Palestinian Loss
French Consul General in Jerusalem, Nicolas Kassianides, acknowledged the devastating impact of the war on Palestinian sports, specifically mentioning the passing of Majed Abu Maraheel, a prominent Olympic athlete who tragically died in Gaza. He was unable to receive proper treatment due to the ongoing conflict, signifying the severe consequences faced by athletes in the region.
The Importance of International Recognition and Support
The Palestinian delegation’s participation in the Paris Olympics serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of Palestinian athletes. This platform will allow them to raise awareness regarding the ongoing war in Gaza, advocate for international recognition of the Palestinian state, and garner global support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
