Supposed Palestinian threat to Olympics is fake, possibly of Russian origin — experts

A video that has been widely shared on social media showing a purported Palestinian threatening attacks on France during the Olympic Games in Paris is a fake and could be of Russian origin, security sources and experts say.

The video has emerged with France preparing to stage an unprecedented opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday and some sporting action already underway since Wednesday.

The video, posted on social networks including X and Telegram, shows a man with his face covered by a keffiyeh scarf and only his eyes exposed threatening “rivers of blood” during the Olympics.

With a Palestinian flag pinned to his front, the man says such attacks will be retribution for what he describes as French support of Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the presence of Israeli athletes at the Olympics.

An anonymously released Israeli propaganda video has circulated online, claiming to be a threat from Palestinians against the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The video features a man wearing the Palestinian Kuffiyeh, speaking in a poorly imitated accent that does not resemble that of… pic.twitter.com/7KnceHrIqh

— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) July 23, 2024

He finishes by brandishing a mock bloodied head which appears to be that of Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic.

But while the video was widely shared, many were also quick to cast doubt on its authenticity, noting it was not the style of groups like Hamas to make such videos and also questioning the quality of the speaker’s Arabic.

A security source, who asked not to be named, tells AFP “the first analyses point to a Russian operation under a ‘false flag.'” The source says “several clues” pointed to this interpretation.