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Indonesia Violates International Rules by Banning Israeli Athletes From Gymnastics Championship, Lawyers Argue
People take part in a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza on the second anniversary of the war that began after Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, outside the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
Indonesia’s decision on Thursday to ban Israeli athletes from entering the country for an international gymnastics competition violates the rules of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), the governing body of gymnastics worldwide, according to an organization of British lawyers who support Israel.
On Friday, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) wrote a letter, which The Algemeiner has obtained, to FIG’s President Morinari Watanabe about Indonesia’s announcement to deny entry visas to Israeli gymnasts for the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta taking place Oct. 19-25. UKLF reminded Watanbe that Article 26.4 of the FIG Statutes 2025 states: “Entry visas must be granted to the gymnasts/athletes and to the officials of all Member Federations. In the event that this requirement is not fulfilled, the allocation of the event would be canceled with immediate effect by the Executive Committee.”
If Indonesia – the world’s largest Muslim country – does not reverse its ban against Israeli athletes, then organizers must immediately cancel the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in line with FIG rules, UKLFI argued in its letter. UKLFI also noted that moving forward with the competition while excluding Israel could also potentially violate rules of the International Olympic Committee and French laws against discrimination, as well as other FIG rules prohibiting discrimination.
“There is no qualification or exception in this rule,” said a UKLFI spokesperson. “Nor can Indonesia’s refusal to grant visas be treated as an exceptional circumstance, since it is precisely the circumstance addressed by the rule. In light of rising antisemitism and the common desire of all countries to keep sports neutral, we urge FIG to comply with its own statutes, which clearly state that gymnasts and officials of all member federations must not be excluded.”
The Israeli team slated to compete in this year’s Artistic Gymnastics World Championships included 2020 Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat. The Israeli Gymnastics Federation said in July that Indonesian officials assured them they would be allowed to compete in the championship, according to the Associated Press. However, this week, Yusril Ihza Mahendra – Indonesia’s minister for law, human rights, and immigration – announced that Israeli athletes will be denied visas to enter Indonesia for the competition.
“The government will not grant visas to Israeli gymnasts who intend to attend the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta,” Mahendra said on Thursday. The decision was made following directives from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto – who recently condemned Israel for its ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip during his speech in front of the UN General Assembly – as well as pressure from Indonesian politicians and MUI, Indonesia’s highest Islamic body, who called for Israeli athletes to be banned from the competition.
Mahendra said this week that the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation originally submitted a sponsorship letter for six Israeli athletes to obtain visas for the championships, but “the federation has withdrawn the sponsorship letter.”
In 2023, Indonesia was stripped of hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup because of protests in the country regarding Israel’s participation in the international soccer competition. That same year, the ANOC World Beach Games was canceled after Indonesia abruptly pulled out as hosts in protest of Israel’s involvement.
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Some Tankers Cross Strait of Hormuz Before Shots Fired, Ship-Tracking Data Shows
A satellite image shows the ship movement at the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, 2026, in Space. EUROPEAN UNION/COPERNICUS SENTINEL-2/Handout via REUTERS
More than a dozen tankers, including three sanctioned vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz after a 50-day blockade was lifted on Friday, shipping data showed, before Iran reimposed restrictions on Saturday and fired at some vessels.
Reopening the strait is key for Gulf producers to resume full oil and gas supplies to the world, and end what the International Energy Agency has called the worst-ever supply disruption.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday Iran had agreed to open the strait, while Iranian officials said they wanted the US to fully lift its blockade of Iranian tankers.
Western shipping companies cautiously welcomed the announcements but said more clarity was needed, including on the presence of sea mines, before their vessels could transit.
IRAN RESUMES RESTRICTIONS
The ships that passed through the strait on Friday and Saturday via Iranian waters south of Larak island were mainly older, non-Western-owned vessels and included four sanctioned ships, according to ship-tracking data.
Iran arranged passage for a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships following prior agreements in negotiations, a spokesperson for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
Other ships have been seen approaching the strait and turning back as Iran said it would maintain strict controls as long as the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports.
The UK Navy reported on Saturday that Iranian gunboats fired at some ships attempting to cross the strait.
Some merchant vessels received radio messages from Iran’s navy saying the strait was shut again and that no ships were allowed to pass, shipping sources said on Saturday.
Ship-tracking data showed five vessels loaded with liquefied natural gas from Ras Laffan in Qatar approaching the strait on Saturday morning.
No LNG cargoes have transited the waterway since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28.
Hundreds of ships have been stuck in the Gulf since the conflict started and Tehran closed the strait, forcing Gulf oil and gas producers to sharply cut production.
Top producers such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq and Kuwait say they need steady tanker flows and unrestricted passage through the strait to resume normal export operations.
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Trump Greenlights Russian Oil to Ease Strain on Global Markets After War with Iran
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, DC, US, March 27, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
i24 News – The Trump administration has authorized a 30-day emergency waiver allowing the maritime purchase of Russian oil, reversing a hardline stance in an effort to stabilize skyrocketing global energy prices.
The Treasury Department announced Friday that the license for crude and petroleum products will remain in effect until May 16, 2026, responding to intense pressure from international partners struggling with the fallout of the war with Iran.
This policy pivot comes as a surprise after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested earlier this week that no further exemptions would be granted:
“As negotiations with Iran accelerate, the administration seeks to ensure oil availability for those who need it most. We must prevent a total price collapse for consumers while the geopolitical situation remains volatile.”
Ensuring global oil availability is paramount for the US as over 80 energy facilities in the Middle East have been damaged by recent war with Iran. With the November midterm elections approaching, record-high fuel prices at the pump remain a primary vulnerability for the Republican party. By allowing Russian oil back into the maritime flow, the administration hopes to neutralize “pain at the pump” before voters head to the polls.
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UK: Islamist Group Claims to Attack Israeli Embassy with ‘Drones Carrying Radioactive, Carcinogenic Materials’
A UK man has been arrested for allegedly threatening a group of Jews while wielding an ax on Rosh Hashanah. Photo: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons.
i24 News – British police officers in protective clothing were seen investigating a “security incident” near the Israeli embassy in London on Friday, after a jihadist group put out a video showing it launching two drones allegedly carrying radioactive and carcinogenic materials toward the embassy.
“There is an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens and officers are assessing a number of discarded items. As a precaution, some of the officers who have been deployed are wearing protective clothing. We recognize this may concern local residents and the wider public,” police said in a statement.
“Counter Terrorism Policing London are aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claims to have targeted the nearby embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances,” the statement further read. “While we can confirm that the embassy has not been attacked, we are carrying out urgent inquiries to determine the authenticity of the video and to identify any potential link between it and the items discarded in Kensington Gardens.”
The incident comes amid a steep hike in antisemitic attacks in Britain targeting Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions.
The group that released the video was identified as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, a shadowy entity with suspected ties to Iran. It has already claimed seven attacks against Jewish institutions, including an arson attack in London where four ambulances owned by the Hatzolah charity were torched.