Paltchik dedicated his Paris medal to his coach, Oren Smadja, whose son, Omer, fell in combat in Gaza in 2024.

Raz Hershko, the world's second-ranked judoka, secured victory over her French opponent—adding to her growing tally of victories and cementing Israel's status as a premier judo nation.

'If we do not recognize evil for what it is, we are throwing away any hope for good.'