An online campaign threatening the Israeli delegation to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has been removed following a quick effort by Israel's National Cyber Directorate and Israel's Internet Association.
The campaign included a price list for the abduction, murder and harassment of Israeli athletes and offered incentives for information on their location and for vandalism. It also included a threatening video clip warning the athletes that they would meet the same fate as the Israeli athletes and coaches in the 1972 Munich Olympics when 11 Israelis were massacred in a Palestinian terror attack.
The campaign offered 40,000 euro ($43,000) for the murder or abduction of Israeli athletes or delegation members, 5,000 euro ($54,000) for any damage caused to Israelis in the delegation, 2,500 euro ($2,700) for theft of their property, 3,000 euro ($3,200) for protesting outside their hotel and 500 Euro for verbal assaults.
"This was a coordinated campaign across several platforms, Yonatan Ben Horin, of the Internet Association said. "This highlights the importance of reporting such incidents."
Israeli athletes and delegation members have received death threats ahead of the Games. The Israeli team's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, judoka Peter Paltchik, and swimmer Meiron Cheruti received an email with an "invitation" to their own funerals, accompanied by threatening messages, just before they landed in Paris. "You are welcome to attend the funeral of Meiron Amir Cheruti, born on 19/10/1997, died on 27/07/2024," read the daunting message, sent along with a location of the "funeral."
The family of rhythmic gymnast Shani Bakanov representing Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics said late on Monday that they have been receiving threats on her life.
On Sunday, Paris police said they opened an investigation into death threats against three Israeli athletes at the Paris Olympic Games. Anti-cybercrime officers also investigated the release of personal information on Israeli athletes on social media platforms.