Milano-Cortina Opening Ceremony set to begin in Milan
When the Israeli delegation entered San Siro, they were met with many boos.
The four athletes in Milan wore stoic expressions with cool smiles.
There were also cheers when the team took the field in Milan.
There are some calls for Israel to be banned from the Games because of the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of civilians.
Israel marches during the opening ceremony at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.Credit: Getty Images
The ceasefire attempted to halt the more than two-year war that began with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but was marred by repeated flare-ups of violence.
In the 2023 offensive that started the war, thousands of Hamas-led militants descended on southern Israel following a surprise rocket barrage, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251.
More than 71,800 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are generally considered reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.
AP, Jake Niall
