Outdated Photo of Two Egyptian Athletes Raising Palestinian Flag Falsely Linked to 2024 Olympics

Misbar investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. The viral photo dates back to November 2022 and has no relation to the current Olympics in Paris.

Photo From 2022 Karate Championship, Not 2024 Olympics

Through Google reverse image search, Misbar’s team found that the viral photo depicts two Egyptian karate athletes raising the Palestinian flag after defeating an Israeli player at the World Traditional Karate Championship in Slovenia.

The two Egyptians won first and second places, while the Israeli player came in third.

Several news outlets reported on the contest and posted the photo. Al Jazeera Mubasher published an article in November 2022 titled “An Arab Celebration of Two Egyptian Athletes Raising the Palestinian Flag Against an Israeli Player,” confirming that it has no relation to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Furthermore, the International Traditional Karate Federation published a video clip on its official YouTube channel of the contest, showing the two Egyptian players raising the Palestinian flag. The video is dated November 18, 2022.

Furthermore, contrary to the claim that karate players are competing in the current Olympics, karate was removed from the Games. The organizers justified their decision by stating that the sport lacked entertainment value and failed to attract a younger audience.

Karate was not the only sport excluded from the 2024 Summer Olympics; baseball and softball were also removed. However, while these two sports will return in the 2028 Olympics, karate will not.

Israel Kills Palestinian Athletes in Gaza Strip

More than 300 athletes, referees, and sports officials have been killed by Israel since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023, according to the secretary general of the Palestinian Sports Media Association.

The first Palestinian to compete in the Olympics in 1996 was among those killed by Israel due to the blockade on medication and the worsening state of Gaza’s healthcare system.

Most of the targeted athletes were juniors. Meanwhile, 90% of the sports facilities in the strip were destroyed.

Many anti-war movements petitioned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bar Israel from participating, but the Olympics hosted Israel despite these calls.

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