Indonesia Denies Visas To Israeli Gymnasts, Blocking Participation In World Championship

People protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza outside US Embassy in Jakarta. (Image: Reuters)

Indonesia denied visas to Israeli gymnasts, preventing them from competing in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship scheduled to take place in Jakarta later this month, officials said amid public anger over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. The Israeli delegation had been expected to participate in the October 19–25 event in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

“They are confirmed to not be attending,” said Ita Juliati, head of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, confirming that the athletes would not take part. Indonesia’s Senior Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the government had decided not to issue entry visas to the Israeli athletes after receiving objections from Islamic clerical bodies and civil groups.

The decision, he said, was consistent with Indonesia’s long-standing position of maintaining no relations with Israel until it recognises “the independence and full sovereignty of the state of Palestine.”

The move comes as Israel faces mounting criticism over its military campaign in Gaza, launched after Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Health authorities in Gaza say more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.

An Instagram post by the Indonesian gymnastics federation earlier this week drew hundreds of pro-Palestinian comments from domestic users after an Israeli association said it planned to attend the championship.

Under President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia has shown signs of slightly softening its stance toward Israel, though it remains firm on supporting Palestinian statehood.

“The world must have an independent Palestine, but also recognise and guarantee the safety and security of Israel,” Prabowo Subianto told the UN General Assembly last month.

It is not the first sports-related dispute between the two countries. In March 2023, FIFA dropped Indonesia as host of the Under-20 World Cup after a regional governor refused to host the Israeli team. Last month, UN experts urged FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel from international football, calling it a “necessary response” to what they described as an “ongoing genocide” in Palestinian territories- an allegation Israel has dismissed.