The Swiss under-23 fencing team refused to turn towards the flags while the Israeli national anthem played during the medal ceremony of the European U23 Fencing Championship in Estonia on Saturday.
The Swiss team, which came in second and won the silver medal, kept facing forward while the Israelis, winning gold and Italians taking third, turned sideways to face the flags of their countries during the anthem.
The footage has since gone viral on social media, widely hailed online as an act of protest, while the Swiss Fencing Association apologised on Sunday after facing pressure from the Israeli foreign ministry.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar took to X stating: “Shame on the Swiss team for their disrespectful behaviour. You don’t know how to lose and behaved in a manner which is an embarrassment to you and the country you’re supposed to represent.”
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