"Apartheid State:" Bakhtawar Bhutto demands to ban Israel in Paris Olympics 2024

Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, the elder daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutoo, has criticised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its "double standards".

In an Instagram story, President Zardari's daughter demanded that Israel be banned from the Olympics, citing the precedent of South Africa's ban from 1964 to 1988 due to its apartheid regime.

"South Africa was banned from the Olympics from 1964 to 1988 because it was an apartheid state," she wrote in the post.

"The ICJ declared Israel to be an apartheid state, so when does its ban start?" she questioned.

Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari's statement comes as the Summer Games are set to begin in France's Paris today (July 26).

Almost 88 athletes from Israel will participate in the event.

Over 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 private security staff will ensure the safety of the parade along the river Seine, its banks and surrounding monuments, in an unprecedented display of security.

"Israeli competitors are being escorted by elite tactical units to and from events and given 24-hour protection throughout the Olympics," officials said.

Israel has been committing war crimes in Gaza since October 7, 2023. 

Over 39,000 Gazans have been killed by Israel and hundreds of thousands have been injured in the coastal enclave.