“My comparison was clumsy and bad and I apologize for that, I reacted with emotion,” writes Mahiedine Mekhissi on X (ex-Twitter). Tuesday evening, the former 3000 meter steeplechase specialist compared Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, assuring that the Nazi leader is “an altar boy” next to the Israeli Prime Minister. “The West is real collaborators,” the five-time European champion, 38, even added. A tweet since deleted.
Assuring that he is not anti-Semitic and that he “condemns what Hamas is doing,” Mekhissi wants to explain: “Israel launched a war aimed at annihilating Hamas, but today they are civilians who are devastated, and that’s what makes me lose my temper.” He claims not to want to “trivialize” Hitler’s actions, assuring that he is a “monster”. The fact remains that for the French champion, Netanyahu is committing “genocide”.
“I condemn all terrorism, whether from the Israelis or Palestinians,” concludes the athlete. I simply wish peace and love for people.”