The International Olympic Committee was Tuesday weighing a Palestinian call for Israeli athletes to be barred from the Games over the war in Gaza, three days before the Opening Ceremony in Paris.

As the Israeli Olympic team settled into the Athletes' Village, the IOC was studying a letter sent by the Palestine Olympic Committee to President Thomas Bach asking him to ban the Israelis, citing the bombings of the besieged Gaza Strip as a breach of the Olympic truce.

The letter sent on Monday "emphasised that Palestinian athletes, particularly those in Gaza, are denied safe passage and have suffered significantly due to the ongoing conflict".

It said, "approximately 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed, and the destruction of sports facilities exacerbates the plight of athletes who are already under severe restrictions".

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-neeraj-chopra-at-paris-olympics-2024-all-you-need-to-know-about-india-javelin-stars-schedule-in-mega-event-743517">Neeraj Chopra at Paris Olympics 2024: All you need to know about Indian javelin star's schedule at mega event</a>

The IOC is likely to reject the Palestinian call but it highlights how the rising death toll and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is impacting the Paris Games.

The war broke out after the October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,124 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.

France's foreign minister has already had to intervene to stress that Israeli athletes are welcome at the Games after far-left French politicians called for them to be barred over the Gaza offensive.

<h2>- 'Best Athletes' Village' -</h2>

Competitors were flooding into the Olympic Village to take up residence in the compound in northern Paris, with national flags hanging from many windows.&nbsp;

Some of the biggest names set to perform at the Olympics -- gymnast Simone Biles and Spanish tennis pair Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz -- have been spotted at the village.

Reviews of the food and accommodation were broadly positive but some people reported issues with the transport to and from sports venues.

"Usually at Olympics, the transport takes a bit of time to work out," Tom Craig, a player in the Australian hockey team, told AFP.&nbsp;

"We've heard about some teams getting taken to the wrong venue, but it hasn't happened to us. One day we got a bit lost but it was fine."

American gymnastics coach Sam Mikulak, a veteran of four Olympics, praised the village as the best he had seen. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Ten out of 10. It's the best set up, the best conditioning space (gym), very organised," he told AFP.&nbsp;

Craig also praised the cardboard beds, which were chosen for environmental reasons.

Some reports have wrongly described them as being intended to deter athletes from jumping under the sheets together.&nbsp;

"They're very comfortable. You don't know you're sleeping on cardboard," he said.

Meanwhile, Britain's joint most decorated woman Olympian, dressage specialist Charlotte Dujardin, withdrew from the Games after a video emerged showing her making "an error of judgement" during a coaching session.

It was not immediately clear what three-time Olympic champion Dujardin had done but Olympic and equestrian authorities have taken an increasingly strict line against alleged improprieties relating to the treatment of animals in recent years.

During the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a German modern pentathlon coach was thrown out the Games for striking a horse.

In other developments, as organisers put the final touches to the plans for Friday's Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine, videos posted online showing US pop star Lady Gaga in Paris sparked rumours that she will be among the performers.

The line-up for the ceremony, which marks the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside of the main stadium, is yet to be fully announced.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience

The International Olympic Committee was Tuesday weighing a Palestinian call for Israeli athletes to be barred from the Games over the war in Gaza, three days before the Opening Ceremony in Paris.

The International Olympic Committee was Tuesday weighing a Palestinian call for Israeli athletes to be barred from the Games over the war in Gaza, three days before the Opening Ceremony in Paris. As the Israeli Olympic team settled into the Athletes' Village, the IOC was studying a letter sent by the Palestine Olympic Committee to President Thomas Bach asking him to ban the Israelis, citing the bombings of the besieged Gaza Strip as a breach of the Olympic truce. The letter sent on Monday "emphasised that Palestinian athletes, particularly those in Gaza, are denied safe passage and have suffered significantly due to the ongoing conflict". It said, "approximately 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed, and the destruction of sports facilities exacerbates the plight of athletes who are already under severe restrictions". Also Read: Neeraj Chopra at Paris Olympics 2024: All you need to know about Indian javelin star's schedule at mega event The IOC is likely to reject the Palestinian call but it highlights how the rising death toll and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is impacting the Paris Games. The war broke out after the October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,124 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. France's foreign minister has already had to intervene to stress that Israeli athletes are welcome at the Games after far-left French politicians called for them to be barred over the Gaza offensive. - 'Best Athletes' Village' - Competitors were flooding into the Olympic Village to take up residence in the compound in northern Paris, with national flags hanging from many windows. Some of the biggest names set to perform at the Olympics -- gymnast Simone Biles and Spanish tennis pair Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz -- have been spotted at the village. Reviews of the food and accommodation were broadly positive but some people reported issues with the transport to and from sports venues. "Usually at Olympics, the transport takes a bit of time to work out," Tom Craig, a player in the Australian hockey team, told AFP. "We've heard about some teams getting taken to the wrong venue, but it hasn't happened to us. One day we got a bit lost but it was fine." American gymnastics coach Sam Mikulak, a veteran of four Olympics, praised the village as the best he had seen. "Ten out of 10. It's the best set up, the best conditioning space (gym), very organised," he told AFP. Craig also praised the cardboard beds, which were chosen for environmental reasons. Some reports have wrongly described them as being intended to deter athletes from jumping under the sheets together. "They're very comfortable. You don't know you're sleeping on cardboard," he said. Meanwhile, Britain's joint most decorated woman Olympian, dressage specialist Charlotte Dujardin, withdrew from the Games after a video emerged showing her making "an error of judgement" during a coaching session. It was not immediately clear what three-time Olympic champion Dujardin had done but Olympic and equestrian authorities have taken an increasingly strict line against alleged improprieties relating to the treatment of animals in recent years. During the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a German modern pentathlon coach was thrown out the Games for striking a horse. In other developments, as organisers put the final touches to the plans for Friday's Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine, videos posted online showing US pop star Lady Gaga in Paris sparked rumours that she will be among the performers. The line-up for the ceremony, which marks the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside of the main stadium, is yet to be fully announced. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience

Paris Olympics 2024: IOC reviews Palestinian letter to ban Israeli athletes from Summer Games

Israeli actor Lior Raz, best known for his character Doron Kabilio in hit show Fauda, has taken to the front lines of Israel's war against Hamas. Raz has joined a group of volunteers 'Brothers in Arms'. The actor shared a video on social media from the south Israeli town of Sderot that shows him accompanying the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner and journalist Avi Yissascharov.&nbsp; 
 
"Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave 'brothers in arms'&nbsp;volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families," posted Raz on social media platform, X.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner <a href="https://twitter.com/yplesner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yplesner</a> and Avi <a href="https://twitter.com/issacharoff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@issacharoff</a> , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families <a href="https://t.co/WpM9JLeOZM">pic.twitter.com/WpM9JLeOZM</a>
— Lior Raz (@lioraz) <a href="https://twitter.com/lioraz/status/1711485146208047170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In the video, they can be seen witnessing a rocket attack on Israel by Hamas. 
 
Israel has begun its retaliation after a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning which led to the death of as many as 700 Israelis with 2,300 others injured. In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that though Israel did not start this war, it will finish it. 
 
As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, the Times of Israel reported. 
 
"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. 
 
The Israeli military is going on the offence against Hamas with a force "like never before," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed. 
 
Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers.

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Israeli actor Lior Raz, best known for his character Doron Kabilio in hit show Fauda, has taken to the front lines of Israel's war against Hamas. Raz has joined a group of volunteers 'Brothers in Arms'.

Israeli actor Lior Raz, best known for his character Doron Kabilio in hit show Fauda, has taken to the front lines of Israel's war against Hamas. Raz has joined a group of volunteers 'Brothers in Arms'. The actor shared a video on social media from the south Israeli town of Sderot that shows him accompanying the president of the Israel Democracy Institute Yohanan Plesner and journalist Avi Yissascharov. "Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave 'brothers in arms' volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families," posted Raz on social media platform, X. Accompanied by Yohanan Plesner @yplesner and Avi @issacharoff , I headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract 2 families pic.twitter.com/WpM9JLeOZM — Lior Raz (@lioraz) October 9, 2023 × In the video, they can be seen witnessing a rocket attack on Israel by Hamas. Israel has begun its retaliation after a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning which led to the death of as many as 700 Israelis with 2,300 others injured. In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that though Israel did not start this war, it will finish it. As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, the Times of Israel reported. "Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Netanyahu in an address to the nation. The Israeli military is going on the offence against Hamas with a force "like never before," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed. Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers.

Watch: Fauda star Lior Raaz takes cover from a rocket as he joins forces in Israel war against Hamas

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Paris Olympics 2024: IOC reviews Palestinian letter to ban Israeli athletes from Summer Games

Watch: Fauda star Lior Raaz takes cover from a rocket as he joins forces in Israel war against Hamas