Palestinian boxer Waseem Abu Sal wore a shirt depicting children being bombed to the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
(PLGNN) - Waseem Abu Sal, who is the first Palestinian boxer to ever compete in the Olympics, made a controversial statement at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics by wearing a shirt depicting fighter jets bombing children.
Abu Sal was one of the two flag-bearers for the Palestinian delegation during the river parade along with the Seine on Friday.
"This shirt represents the current picture in Palestine," Abu Sal told AFP on Saturday.
"The children who are martyred and die under the rubble, children whose parents are martyred and are left alone without food or water."
Palestine is currently in the middle of a conflict with Israel following the October 7th surprise attack from terrorist group Hamas. Hamas invaded Israel, killing over 1,000 Israelis and took 250 hostage. Since then, Israel launched a military campaign into Gaza, which is one of the two Palestinian territories.
Hamas has control of Gaza after being elected by the Palestinian people when Israel left the area in 2005. Since Israel's military campaign has begun, over 30,000 Palestinians are claimed to have been killed. PLGNN cannot independently verify these figures.
"It's a message of peace. It's a message to attract attention," he said. "This is anti-war, against killing. This abides with the Olympic Charter."
Abu Sal added that the shirt was approved before he wore it.
The Palestinian Olympic Committee wrote to the IOC last week asking for the Israeli athletes to be banned from the Paris Olympics, however the request was rejected.
The Israeli Olympic team was also denied permission to wear a yellow ribbon, which represents solidarity with the hostages currently held by Hamas.
Palestine has not had the best reputation with the Olympics, and Palestinian terror group Black September infamously killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.
(PLGNN) - Waseem Abu Sal, who is the first Palestinian boxer to ever compete in the Olympics, made a controversial statement at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics by wearing a shirt depicting fighter jets bombing children.
Abu Sal was one of the two flag-bearers for the Palestinian delegation during the river parade along with the Seine on Friday.
"This shirt represents the current picture in Palestine," Abu Sal told AFP on Saturday.
"The children who are martyred and die under the rubble, children whose parents are martyred and are left alone without food or water."
Palestine is currently in the middle of a conflict with Israel following the October 7th surprise attack from terrorist group Hamas. Hamas invaded Israel, killing over 1,000 Israelis and took 250 hostage. Since then, Israel launched a military campaign into Gaza, which is one of the two Palestinian territories.
Hamas has control of Gaza after being elected by the Palestinian people when Israel left the area in 2005. Since Israel's military campaign has begun, over 30,000 Palestinians are claimed to have been killed. PLGNN cannot independently verify these figures.
"It's a message of peace. It's a message to attract attention," he said. "This is anti-war, against killing. This abides with the Olympic Charter."
Abu Sal added that the shirt was approved before he wore it.
The Palestinian Olympic Committee wrote to the IOC last week asking for the Israeli athletes to be banned from the Paris Olympics, however the request was rejected.
The Israeli Olympic team was also denied permission to wear a yellow ribbon, which represents solidarity with the hostages currently held by Hamas.
Palestine has not had the best reputation with the Olympics, and Palestinian terror group Black September infamously killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.
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