Jakarta (Web Desk): Amid escalating Israeli violence in Gaza, Indonesia has refused to issue visas to Israeli gymnasts, preventing them from participating in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship scheduled to be held in Jakarta this October.
According to Reuters, the Israeli gymnastics team was set to compete from October 19 to 25 in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, which does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel. As a result, Indonesia denied visas to the Israeli athletes.
Eita Juliati, head of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, confirmed that the Israeli team will no longer participate in the event.
Senior Indonesian Minister for Legal Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, stated that the decision came after objections raised by groups such as the Council of Ulama and the Jakarta city government.
Mahendra added that Indonesia’s policy is to withhold diplomatic relations with Israel until it recognizes the independence and full sovereignty of the State of Palestine.
Since October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, prompting Indonesia to strongly condemn the conflict.
This is not the first sporting dispute between the two nations; in March 2023, Indonesia lost the right to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup after refusing to allow the Israeli team to participate.