Olympics terror fears as ring of steel security ramped up around Israeli athletes after ‘assassination’ of Hamas leader
SECURITY around the Israeli Olympics team has been ramped up over fears of a revenge attack after Hamas’s political leader was assassinated.
Ismail Haniyeh, 61, was taken out in Iran in a move which could trigger an all-out war in the region – leaving the Games’ organisers reinforcing their ring of steel safety operations.
Israel’s security chiefs are said to be left with major worries over how the Hamas kingpin’s death may lead to a tit-for-tat revenge assault on the 88 athletes and dozens of staff representing Israel in Paris.
Security has already been heightened for all Israeli athletes tight after a string of violent death threats were made due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Hundreds of armed Israeli security personnel are stationed in Paris to protect the team alongside French forces.
Authorities already escorting Israeli teams to and from their events by elite units and they are under 24-hour security.
The Israeli Olympic football team bus was even flanked by an enormous armed police motorcade last week amid terror threats.
Inside the stadium, players were booed as they entered the pitch with several chilling banners being held up slamming the Gaza war.
It comes as more than a dozen Israeli athletes were sent death threats before the game.
Opening ceremony flag-bearers, judo star Peter Paltchik and swimmer Meiron Cheruti, were also sent “invitations” to their own funerals.
With suspected Iranian hackers also leaking personal information of those athletes who served in the Israeli army.
Photos of IDs, plane tickets, documents, and personal information on Israeli athletes’ service in the IDF was all reportedly revealed.
The latest move to protect Israel’s athletes has seen the countries two feared security agencies, Shin Bet and Mossad, flying out to Paris to bolster up the protection.
Forces are expected to join in with the ring of steel operations which have so far proved successful in protecting competitors at the Games.
The decision to draft in more specialists was made following the 2am air strike which killed Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday.
Teams of officers are also set to carry out daily assessments on how the fast-moving situation in the Middle East may affect athletes, say Israeli media.
Hard left French MP Thomas Portes has previously caused even more tension at the sporting event after he told a Palestinian protest march in Paris: “The Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris. Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games.”
Fears are increasing that a tragic event may unfold similar to the 1972 massacre in Munich when 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed by Palestinian terrorists.
The assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut on Tuesday has also increased tensions in the Middle East in the last 24 hours.
Who was Ismail Haniyeh?
By Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
Haniyeh, one of the founding members of the terror group, unflinchingly represented the bloodthirsty clan for decades, even past the death of his own children.
The 62-year-old was responsible for running Hamas’ political operations from Doha, Qatar’s capital.
Born in a refugee camp in northern Gaza, he lead the group through several wars with Israel and served as a fundamental power player for the cult.
Over the last ten months he had been responsible for conducting ceasefire talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US.
He survived an Israeli assassination attempt in 2003, before the IDF took out his mentor – the founder of Hamas itself Sheik Ahmed Yassin – in 2004.
Standing outside a hospital in Gaza at the time, the man who would become one of Hamas’ principal leaders urged people not to cry but to focus on revenge instead.
By 2006 he was working as the leader of Hamas in Gaza, a position now held by Israel’s number one enemy – Yahya Sinwar.
He moved to Qatar in 2017 when he was named as the group’s new political leader.
The group was trying to change its image at the time as it made bids across the international stage for more influence.
Haniyeh represented the Iran-backed terror proxy in Qatar, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran and Egypt.
His ruthless approach to furthering the Hamas agenda would overrule even the assassination of his own children and grandchildren years later.
In April this year an Israeli airstrike killed three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren.
In June, Hamas claimed his sister and her family were also killed by an Israeli strike.
Haniyeh simply said at the time: “We shall not give in, no matter the sacrifices.”
He added that he had lost dozens of family members over years of war between Hamas and Israel.
The terror boss was given news of his children’s deaths while on a hospital visit. After hearing the news, he continued to tour the building as normal.
Haniyeh spent time inside Israeli prisons in the 1980s and 1990s.
By 1988 he was among the founding members of Hamas, working under Yassin.
His assassination serves as a fundamental blow to Hamas – with leaders dubbing it a “treacherous Zionist raid” on Wednesday morning.
Responding to the suspected Israeli kills, Iran, a staunch backer of Hamas, said it is “Tehran’s duty” to seek “revenge for Ismail Haniyeh’s blood”.
Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to enact a “harsh punishment”.
Hamas also swore to seek “dire consequences” for the strike that killed its political leader, responsible for conducting its negotiations outside of the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Hezbollah, another Iran-backed ally in the “axis of resistance”, promised to stir up anti-Israel sentiment amongst its allies.
And the Houthis, based in Yemen, said it marks a “major escalation” in the Middle East.
PROTECTING PARIS
France has already set up a major patchwork of steel security operation to monitor the Games.
Organisers are preparing for all possibilities during the event with terrorist attacks and protests all looming over the Games.
Paris has been rocked following the recent election chaos that saw tens of thousands of riot cops battling with opposing political supporters.
Political candidates and activists were attacked in the streets with cars and buildings set alight after the country’s most divisive vote ever.
Paris 2024 is tipped to be the most guarded Games ever with over 60,000 cops and soldiers, drones, AI and helicopters all deployed.
Over 43 countries are involved in ensuring the Olympics are kept secure with French officials claiming the “unprecedented” operations are at least three times larger than at London 2012.
Alongside the huge security teams a number of aerial units will also be in operation.
Rafale fighter jets, AWACS surveillance flights, Reaper surveillance drones and helicopters with high-level snipers on board will patrol the Paris skies throughout the event.
The Paris Police Prefecture also declared a four mile metal barricade along the River Seine to protect those going to events.
Dubbed the SILT, or the “belt of steel” the anti-terrorism barrier is set to act as the first line of defence.
Passersby will need to scan a QR code to pass through the makeshift gated wall.
Around 20,000 people live and work inside the zone with them all being forced to get a pass to enable them to move around central Paris.
The strict rules have left thousands feeling let down by how the Games have taken over the city.
For the Olympics, increased AI surveillance cameras and technology has already been deployed across Paris to monitor the millions of visitors expected in the coming weeks.
An influx of additional security cameras are stationed across Paris with organisers using AI to scan through the streets to ensure safety and security.
A huge number of drones are also set to take part in one of the most closely monitored sporting events of all time.
The latest security issues have come as Paris was rocked following France’s rail network coming under attack last week.
Officials say a wave of “sabotage” hit the French rail network overnight with a series of fires bringing trains to a halt as well as some phone networks going down.