The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) has banned the display of the Israeli flag and the playing of the Israeli national anthem at all of its events, as of July 31.
Israeli fighters will also be unable to represent their country and instead will have to perform under the category of Neutral Individual Athletes. IFMA noted that it is not banning Israeli athletes, but like Russian and Belarusian athletes, they are not allowed to represent their country.
Additionally, no official IFMA competitions will be hosted or supported by Israel until further notice.
Why did the IFMA bar Israeli entry?
According to IFMA, the move was sparked by the death of a Palestinian boy named Ammar Hamayel, who was a member of the Palestinian national Muaythai team. According to Palestinian media, Hamayel was shot dead by an IDF soldier in Ramallah in June at the age of 13.
Following the news of his death, IFMA flew its flags at half-mast, and its social media profiles will go dark. On June 25, during the final of the Asian Championships, the competition paused in tribute to his memory.
In an official statement, IFMA President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan said, “When a child, a youth peace ambassador, is killed, silence is no longer an option… This is not just a tragedy – it is a call to action. We cannot stand by when the innocent pay the price of conflict.”
The Palestinian Olympic Committee praised the sanctions, calling them “an important step and a sign of hope to achieve justice,” and asked other international federations to follow suit.