Muaythai federation bans Israeli symbols over killing of Palestinian athlete

The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) has announced an urgent policy change regarding Israeli representation at its events, following the recent killing of a young Palestinian athlete and peace ambassador by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.

“When a child, a youth peace ambassador, is killed, silence is no longer an option,” said IFMA President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan in a statement on Thursday.

“This is not just a tragedy—it is a call to action. We cannot stand by when the innocent pay the price of conflict,” Tapsuwan said. 

From now on, and with immediate effect, no Israeli symbols will be allowed at any event organized or sanctioned by IFMA. This includes the flag, anthem and other official emblems.

On June 23, Israeli military forces killed a Palestinian teenager Ammar Hamayel in the northern sector of the West Bank amid simmering tensions across the occupied territory and the Tel Aviv regime’s ongoing brutal war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

He was fatally shot by Israeli forces in Kufr Malek village, near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Family members and relatives said Hamayel was walking with friends in the village when the Israeli soldiers shot him in the neck.

The Israeli military later claimed, without providing evidence, that Hamayel had been throwing stones at settlers’ vehicles at the time of the incident.

Hamayel, 13 years old, was a Thai boxing champion, dreaming of representing Palestine on the world stage. But like many other Palestinian children, his dream was silenced by Israeli bullets.

 According to the IFMA statement on Thursday, the decision represents a peaceful yet firm protest against actions that “endanger children and violate the core values of global sport”.

“Sport is meant to protect, empower, and unite—especially for the young. Ammar believed in that,” said Dr. Tapsuwan. “We honor his memory not with silence, but with a stand for justice.”

IFMA has confirmed that the decisions will remain in place until further notice and that the Executive Board will evaluate their continuation based on the evolving humanitarian situation and their alignment with the principles of peace, dignity and inclusion.

The federation reaffirmed its commitment to human dignity and its willingness to continuously review its policies to contribute to a fairer world through sport.

Calls to exclude Israel from international sports events have indeed increased recently due to its relentless aggression against Gaza.

In May, Spain was reportedly spearheading a coordinated initiative aimed at persuading the European Union to eliminate Israel from all continental sports competitions over its genocidal war on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Spain pushes EU to exclude Israel from European sports competitions

Spain is reportedly pushing the European Union to exclude Israel from all continental sports competitions.

According to a report published by the Spanish daily sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Spanish Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports Pilar Alegría announced that her nation, in conjunction with the European Union, is prepared to open discussions regarding the exclusion of “Israel” from all sports, both continental and international tournaments.

The killing of the Palestinian teenager happened as Israel ramped up its aggression against Palestinians across the West Bank since October 7, 2023, when it launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others injured by Israeli settlers or troops across the occupied territory since the onset of the war.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on the occupied territories.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk