During a medal ceremony at the European Under-23 Fencing Championships in Estonia, controversy erupted when members of Switzerland’s fencing team turned away as Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, played in honor of the Israeli team’s gold medal win.

The Swiss team — composed of Ian Hauri, Theo Brochard, Jonathan Fuhrimann, and Sven Vineis — faced sharp criticism for their gesture, which many perceived as a political statement. In response to the backlash, the athletes issued an apology through the Swiss Fencing Federation’s official Instagram page, insisting their actions were not meant to target Israel specifically but were intended to show general solidarity with “victims of war and conflict.” They stressed that they had warmly congratulated the Israeli athletes before and after the ceremony.

Switzerland’s ambassador to Israel, Simon Geissbühler, also formally apologized, denouncing the incident as “inappropriate behavior” and reaffirming that award ceremonies should remain free of political demonstrations. He noted that the act was spontaneous and not coordinated in advance. Swiss Fencing leadership promised to further address the matter once the team returned home.

Israeli officials responded with outrage. Yael Arad, Chairwoman of the Israel Olympic Committee and a prominent figure in the International Olympic Committee, slammed the move as a violation of the spirit of sportsmanship and respect that international competitions demand. She also pointed out the inconsistency of the protest, as Switzerland officially designates Hamas — the group responsible for brutal attacks on Israeli civilians — as a terrorist organization.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the Swiss team’s actions “disgraceful” and said it had brought shame upon Switzerland.

The incident has reignited debate over whether political gestures have a place in global sports arenas, with many emphasizing the importance of preserving respect and unity among nations, especially during official ceremonies.