Thomas Portes' comments on Israel have caused controversy. GETTY IMAGES

Thomas Portes, of La France Insoumise, said that Israeli athletes "are not welcome" at the Paris Olympics. He has been criticised by Jewish associations, but also by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne.

Israel's actions in Gaza have generated debate and controversy all over the world and the Olympics are no exception, a French parliamentarian, Thomas Portes of La France Insoumise, has said that Israeli athletes are "not welcome" at the Olympics.



He also said that there should be demonstrations against Israel and that the International Olympic Committee should prevent the Israeli flag from flying and the anthem from being played at the Olympics. He believes there are double standards in the treatment of Israel and Russia.

Some Russian athletes will take part in Paris 2024, but they will not do so in defence of their flag, but will compete individually, and each of these athletes will be checked to ensure that they are not openly supporting the Russian government.  

Reactions have been swift. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said that the Israeli delegation "is welcome" and that the left-wing politician's statements were "irresponsible and dangerous". Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a television interview that Portes is ‘putting a target on the backs of Israeli athletes’ and that there were ‘hints of anti-Semitism’ in his remarks.



The French government says that all athletes, regardless of their nationality, must be welcomed in the same way and the Israeli delegation will be provided with special security arrangements.

Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, said that Israeli athletes ‘were already the most endangered at the Olympic Games’, referring to the 11 athletes "murdered by Palestinian terrorists" in 1972 at the Munich Games. He believes that Portes "legitimises Hamas" with these statements.



Within French politics, there have been many more reactions to Portes' words. His party, La France Insoumise, was one of the left-wing parties that united in the recent legislative elections, with the aim of preventing a victory of the extreme right. Within the coalition, there have been voices critical of the MP, especially from the Socialist Party. In his own party there have been colleagues who have defended him.

The Israeli Olympic team's first competition will be this Wednesday, in men's football, in a match at 21:00 local time at the Paris capital's Parc des Princes. Israeli President Isaac Herzog's office said on Sunday he would attend Friday's boat parade on the Seine River and a commemoration of Israelis killed in Munich in 1972.