Indonesia denies visas to Israeli athletes for Artistic Gymnastics World Cup

The Indonesian government has announced that it will not grant visas to Israeli gymnasts scheduled to participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, scheduled to take place in Jakarta from October 19-25. The move follows strong popular opposition expressed in the Muslim-majority country, due to the war in Gaza and Indonesia’s historic support for the Palestinian cause.

The Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, confirmed that this measure was in line with the line set by President Prabowo Subianto, recalling that Jakarta would not establish any contact with Israel until Palestine was free and sovereign. The governor of Jakarta stressed that the arrival of Israeli athletes would have aroused strong emotion in the population, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dramatic.

The affair illustrates the growing sidelining of Israel on the international sporting and cultural scene, while many voices are calling for sanctions similar to those imposed on Russia since 2022. Indonesia’s gesture has a strong symbolic significance in a global context where certain Arab governments have, on the contrary, chosen the path of normalization with Israel despite the genocide in Gaza. By reaffirming its refusal of any contact until Israel has recognized a free Palestine, Jakarta has established itself as one of the rare states to maintain moral and diplomatic coherence.