Israeli Children Targeted in Antisemitic Violence at Judo Tournament in Poland

Israeli athletes were verbally and physically accosted during an international youth judo tournament in Bielsko-Biała on Saturday, according to Israel’s embassy in Poland, in an incident that unfolded in front of children as young as seven.

The competition featured athletes aged 7 to 16 from 15 countries. Israel was represented for the first time, with roughly 90 young judokas from three clubs taking part. What was meant to be a sporting event promoting cooperation instead devolved into a confrontation marked by allegations of antisemitic abuse and violence.

According to the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw, the Israeli team was “attacked verbally and physically.” In a public statement, the embassy said there is “no place for violence or antisemitic slurs of any kind, particularly in sport,” and called on Polish authorities to act swiftly, investigate the incident, and ensure the safety of the Israeli participants.

Israeli witnesses told Channel 14 that throughout the day, members of the crowd shouted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “here come the Jews” toward Israeli athletes and coaches. Some of the children, including competitors under the age of 10, were subjected to the chants while preparing for and competing in their matches.

The situation escalated when two Israeli coaches approached the judges’ panel to complain about the atmosphere in the hall and request intervention. According to Israeli accounts, a group of local men confronted the coaches, shouted at them, and then shoved and struck them in front of the children. The altercation was captured on a fixed camera during a livestream of the event, which showed men pushing one another while young athletes stood nearby. The footage, however, does not show how the confrontation began.

Israeli reports said that following the incident, tournament organizers removed the Israeli delegation from the competition and from a four-day training camp associated with the event. Members of the delegation then returned to their hotel and remained there out of concern for their safety. An Israeli club involved in the incident described the episode as “a experience of fear, violence, and antisemitism,” saying children should not need protection at a youth sports tournament.

Polish authorities and organizers offered a different account. Deputy Commissioner Sławomir Kocur, a spokesman for the Bielsko-Biała police, told Polish media that officers who arrived at the scene spoke with all parties, informed them of their right to file a complaint, and confirmed that none chose to do so. “The parties calmed down,” he said, adding that police determined the Israeli coach initiated physical contact.

Tomasz Chmielniak, president of the Janosik club that organizes the tournament, said “young Israeli judo players were certainly not attacked,” claiming that an Israeli coach entered the mat, shouted at a referee, and violated the referee’s physical integrity. He said one Israeli club was excluded for aggressive behavior and failure to adhere to fair play, while another Israeli club continued competing and went on to win several medals.