Indonesia will not issue visas to Israeli athletes competing in the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced on Friday.

Mr Yusril said the decision followed President Prabowo Subianto’s directive and reflected Indonesia’s long-standing stance against formal relations with Israel until it recognised an independent Palestinian state.

He added that the move aligned with Mr Subianto’s recent United Nations address, where the president condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as “cruelty and brutality” against the Palestinian people.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and consistently voices strong support for Palestinian statehood and self-determination.

This is not the first time Indonesia has barred Israeli athletes. The government cites national solidarity with Palestine as the basis for denying Israeli participation in global sporting events.

Chair of the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, Ita Yuliati Irawan, said the International Gymnastics Federation had voiced support for Indonesia’s decision during a phone call on Friday morning.

According to the Indonesian federation, six Israeli athletes, Eyal Indig, Artem Dolgopyat, Ron Pyatov, Lihie Raz, Roni Shamay, and Yali Shoshani, had qualified for the Jakarta competition.

Israel has criticised such exclusions, maintaining that recognising Palestinian statehood would reward Hamas, which it blames for initiating the Gaza war following attacks two years ago.

(dpa/NAN)