KEY POINTS
- The decision reflects Indonesia’s continued support for Palestinian statehood.
- The move comes amid global backlash over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia has barred Israeli athletes from entering the country for an upcoming international gymnastics competition, effectively excluding them from the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship scheduled for October 19–25 in Jakarta, officials said on Friday.
The decision, taken amid global condemnation of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
“They are confirmed not to be attending,” said Ita Juliati, head of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, confirming that Israeli gymnasts would not be allowed to compete.
The Israeli Gymnastics Federation has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel and has long supported Palestinian statehood.
According to Senior Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the decision to deny visas was taken after domestic opposition, including pressure from religious leaders and the Jakarta city government.
“The move is consistent with our foreign policy, which supports Palestinian independence and sovereignty,” Yusril said in a statement.
War in Gaza fuels backlash
Tensions over Israel’s participation in international events have surged since October 2023, when Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on Israel.
Since October 2023, Israel has launched a relentless military offensive in Gaza that has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Indonesia has been vocal in its condemnation of the Israeli assault.
This is not the first time sporting ties between the two nations have broken down. In March 2023, FIFA stripped Indonesia of its hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup after local officials refused to accommodate the Israeli team.
More recently, UN experts urged international football bodies, including FIFA and UEFA, to suspend Israel from global competition, accusing the country of “genocide” in the occupied Palestinian territories, a charge Israel strongly denies.
