In the wake of the Iron Swords War, reports of Israelis facing degrading treatment abroad, particularly in sports venues, have become increasingly common. Orr Sheizaf, an Israeli who traveled to Paris to support his country's Paralympic athletes, recently experienced such discrimination firsthand when he was initially prohibited from entering a venue with an Israeli flag and the walking aids he requires due to injuries sustained in Gaza.

Sheizaf took to social media to recount the incident, writing: "The security guard who inspected our bags at the entrance clearly took issue with what he saw – an Israeli flag. He informed us that we couldn't bring it in and even attempted to discard it. Naturally, after we caused a commotion, a supervisor intervened and permitted the flag. However, the overzealous security guard wasn't satisfied. He tried to pull me aside, insisting I couldn't enter with my walking aids, which I need due to an injury from an explosive device during the war."

He continued, "Let's pause to consider this – we're talking about the Paralympic Games, the premier sporting event for athletes with disabilities. Of course, this issue was also resolved after the supervisor stepped in. We then rushed into the venue. Although we missed the swim, Ami Dadaon delivered, winning gold, and we had the honor of singing the national anthem with him."

Sheizaf's post concluded on a positive note: "The following day, when we arrived at Roland Garros to support Guy Sasson in his medal match in tennis, no one objected to me bringing in my walking aids or an Israeli flag. There were no complaints when we used the aids to secure the flag and wave it to cheer on Guy during his match and remarkable comeback. But what touched me most was when Guy 'grabbed' the flag from me – aid and all – to celebrate his victory at center court. I'm still processing it. Once I've collected myself, I'll share a comprehensive post about the entire experience at the Paralympic Games and with the national team."

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The city of Ottawa has announced plans to raise the Israeli flag at city hall on May 14 to commemorate Israel's Independence Day, upholding an annual tradition since 2007. However, in a departure from previous years, the flag-raising will occur without a public ceremony, citing security considerations.

In a press release on Tuesday, the city stated that after consulting with the Ottawa Police Service and others, it would follow recommendations "based on safety and security considerations to not hold a public ceremony this year. This decision is based on recent intelligence that suggests hosting a public ceremony poses a substantial risk to public safety."

The pro-Palestinian sit-in protest at the University of Ottawa showed no signs of abating on Saturday, as demonstrators persisted with their occupation of the front lawn at Tabaret Hall. Organizers reiterated their determination to maintain the encampment "for as long as it takes" until their demands are met by the university administration.

The protest began on April 29 with protesters pitching tents on the lawn. Ayham Hakimi, one of the organizers, stressed that the demonstrators remain firmly committed to their call for "full transparency for where tuition money is going."

The city's statement highlighted Ottawa's long-standing practice of celebrating national holidays and independence days for more than 190 federally recognized countries through flag-raising events and activities, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada. While the city will forgo a public gathering, the Israeli flag will still be raised at City Hall, continuing a tradition that has been observed annually since 2007.

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The demonstrations of anti-Israel hate during Quds Day events in Iran are an opportunity for the Tehran regime and its supporters to voice their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and their total rejection of any plan that would recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

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But sometimes, things simply go awry.

Documentation on social media, published by exiled Iranian opposition leader Masih Alinejad, shows a group of Iranian students, apparently outside a university in Tehran, waving PLO flags and posters with pro-Palestinian slogans, poised to set fire to a large Israeli flag that had apparently been prepared specially for the event.

Watch: A man in Iran catches on fire while burning an Israeli flag during a Quds Day protest. https://t.co/qv4NUU1OEE pic.twitter.com/9q0Cv6W7zI

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 9, 2021

But the man assigned to set the flag on fire failed to take prevailing weather conditions into account, and in the seconds it took for the flag to light, a large flame jumped toward him and caught on his clothing. The man is seen running toward his friends, who continue to scream slogans.

Followers of Alinejad's Instagram account were quick to heap insult on injury.

"These people would wind up burning down all of Jerusalem by mistake," wrote one user. Another commented, "They want to throw Israel into the sea, but it looks like they should jump in first."

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Leaders of the Islamist Hamas group, which rules Gaza, and of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad faction, both backed by Iran, joined mourners at a tent erected in Soleimani's honor in the heart of Gaza City.

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Israel regards the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as an Iranian proxy, while the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which rules the coastal territory, is also seen as having close ties to Tehran.

Flags of the United States and Israel were laid on the ground for visitors to tread on as they entered, passing posters of Soleimani. The flags were later set on fire.

"We are loyal to those who stood with the resistance and with Palestine and we hold the US administration and the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the consequences of this deplorable crime," said Ismail Radwan, a Hamas official.

Soleimani, 62, was the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' foreign legions. As head of the Quds Force, he was the architect of Iran's drive to spread its influence in the Middle East through proxy militias, some of them now operating on the doorstep of its archenemy Israel.

Israel, which defended the US operation on Friday, has fought three wars with Hamas in the last decade, and in 2006 fought a brief war with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia across the Lebanese border.

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The clip, published on Twitter on Nov. 30, shows CSCC student Malek Mustafa, who has an anti-Israel history and has minimized Hamas terrorism, cut down the Israeli flag from the display.

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Out of 26,935 students, there are only five Jewish students, according to Hillel International.

"Columbus State has confirmed a recent incident in which a miniature Israeli flag was forcibly removed from an international flag display on college property. An investigation is underway," tweeted the school on Nov. 30.

Columbus State is committed to a safe, inclusive environment for all students and the community. The college is undertaking a due process review of the recent incident of a man cutting down and throwing away a miniature Israeli flag from an international flag display on campus.

— Columbus State (@cscc_edu) December 2, 2019

On Monday, CSCC further tweeted about the incident.

"Columbus State is committed to a safe, inclusive environment for all students and the community. The college is undertaking a due process review of the recent incident of a man cutting down and throwing away a miniature Israeli flag from an international flag display on campus," posted the community college on Twitter. "We first learned about this incident Saturday along with the rest of the public when the video posted to social media and quickly went viral. The college must and will abide by student privacy laws in disposition of the incident."

We first learned about this incident Saturday along with the rest of the public when the video posted to social media and quickly went viral. The college must and will abide by student privacy laws in disposition of the incident.

— Columbus State (@cscc_edu) December 2, 2019

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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The flags will be sent back to the Ammunition Hill National Memorial Site in Jerusalem and placed into a "time capsule," to be reopened only in 30 years, when the country celebrates its centennial anniversary.

Two hundred of these flags, to be signed by a representative sample of all segments of Israeli society and the Diaspora, will be put on display this Independence Day at Ammunition Hill. The public will be able to view the flags throughout the spring and summer months.

"On Israel's 70th year, we have a rare opportunity to send a powerful message to the next generations," Education Minister Naftali Bennett said of the event. "Ever since the First Zionist Congress in Basel, the flag has been there during the most important moments in the annals of our return to Zion in the modern age, and it is a symbol of longing and hope. Now we are passing the flag on to the future generation as well."

Private citizens, organizations and families wishing to partake in the project will be able to visit Ammunition Hill and receive a flag to sign with their own personal messages.

Along with the Ammunition Hill National Memorial Site, the project is being organized in conjunction with the Education Ministry, Foreign Ministry, the Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Ministry and the JNF-USA's education department.

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