Israeli athletes, team officials, coaches, and delegation members must participate under the status of Authorized Individual Neutrals (AIN), a designation also applied to individuals from Russia and Belarus.

By Shiryn Ghermezian, The Algemeiner

The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) has banned all representation of Israel at its events and said Israeli athletes must compete under neutral status, following the alleged death of a Palestinian boy who was a member of the Palestinian national Muaythai team.

Ammar Mutaz Hamayel, 13, was allegedly shot in the back by an Israeli soldier near Ramallah, Palestinian media claimed.

Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were also accused of detaining Hamayel for two hours before handing him over to a Palestinian ambulance that took him to the hospital, where he was allegedly pronounced dead. Israel has not verified or commented on Hamayel’s death.

The IFMA published a tribute to Hamayel after his alleged death, saluting him as a “young warrior” and saying that “his passion for Muaythai was matched only by the warmth and kindness he shared with all who knew him.”

In honor of Hamayel, the IFMA flew its flags at half-mast, its social media profiles went dark, and a moment of silence was held for him at the final of the Asian Championships on June 25.

Stephan Fox, the general secretary of IFMA, posted his own tribute to Hameyel on social media.

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

“This is not just a tragedy – it is a call to action. We cannot stand by when the innocent pay the price of conflict,” he added. “Sport is meant to protect, empower, and unite – especially for the young. Ammar believed in that. We honor his memory not with silence, but with a stand for justice.”

The IFMA, which is the world governing body for the Thai martial arts and combat sport, published a policy report on July 18 announcing that effective immediately, Israeli national symbols – including the flag, anthem, and emblems – will be “strictly prohibited” at all IFMA-organized and IFMA-sanctioned events.

Israeli athletes, team officials, coaches, and delegation members must participate under the status of Authorized Individual Neutrals (AIN), a designation also applied to individuals from Russia and Belarus.

“They must not represent their country in any capacity,” according to the new policy. Also, no IFMA or IFMA-affiliated events will be hosted in or supported within Israel until further notice.

The new policy will remain in place until repealed or amended by the IFMA Executive Committee.

“The policy reflects IFMA’s commitment to fair play, neutrality, and the protection of the values and integrity of sport in the current complex geopolitical landscape and recent developments,” the organization stated.

The IFMA added that the new policy will not impact the 2025 Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi set for September.

Israeli delegations may compete in the championships with Israeli representation but “all subsequent events will enforce the full neutrality conditions set forth in this policy.”

Muaythai originated hundreds of years ago in Thailand, a Southeast Asian country whose citizens have been constantly impacted by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

During the Hamas-led deadly massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, terrorists killed more than 40 Thais and kidnapped 31 Thai laborers, some of whom died in captivity, according to the Thai government.

Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists abducted more than 250 people in total, including Israelis and foreign nationals.

In June, Israeli military forces retrieved the body of a Thai hostage, Nattapong Pinta, who had been held in Gaza since the attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Pinta was abducted alive from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and was killed during captivity.

Last year, four Thai nationals were killed and one was injured in northern Israel by rockets fired from the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah.

The post International Muaythai federation bans Israeli representation at all competitions appeared first on World Israel News.

Here is a recap of the top Israel news stories on July 31, 2019.

And in case you missed our last recap…

The post WATCH: Daily Israel News Recap – July 31, 2019 appeared first on World Israel News.

Most competitors from Arab nations want to fight Israel. However, their countries forbid it.

By Tsivya Fox-Dobuler, World Israel News

Arab nations at this year’s International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) competition (July 20-28) continue to lack “fair play” when it comes to Israel, even when required to do so by the organization’s “ethical oath.”

The federation not only remains silent on the matter, but recently recognized “Palestine” as a country and asked a Palestinian to read the ethical declaration for all participants.

“An electronic lottery chooses which players will compete with each other,” Chaninat Hashem Gordon, mother of Israeli Muaythai competitors Kibedy, Ruach and Ahavat Gordon, explained to World Israel News.

“The Israeli athletes know that if they are scheduled to fight an Arab athlete, the person won’t show up and they will win by default. It’s very sad and frustrating,” she said.

Libya and Iraq forfeited their fights against Israel at this competition. Algeria, Iran and Palestinian fighters will always forfeit, should they be called to compete with Israel, Gordon says.

“They will never fight with Israel because that would recognize the existence of the country,” she said.

“The UAE [United Arab Emirates] does compete with Israel. However, after the fight, they won’t hug an Israeli on camera or shake hands with Israeli coaches, as is the custom after every fight. It’s very obvious that they are behaving differently with the Israeli team than with all others.” (Turkey is also willing to compete against Israelis.)

On July 24, Libyan Abdulhafid Assaid forfeited against Israel player Din Haziza in the 54 kg men’s Class B  competition. The next day, Iraqi Ali Kinanah twice forfeited, sending Haziza straight to the semi-finals without a fight.

Rule-breaking goes unpunished

“This poor sportsmanship goes against the rules, has been going on for a long time, and no one is stopping it,” Gordon told World Israel News. “Keeping silent on this behavior sets a precedent for other prestigious world competitions, like the Olympics.”

Although a forfeit, called Walk Over (WO), pushes Israelis up in the competition, the players are “disappointed” as these are only technical wins, explained Gordon.

“IFMA’s federation is like the United Nations for sports,” Gordon told World Israel News. “Arab countries are part of the federation and consistently do not follow the rules set down in the ethical code. How do they get away with this?”

At this year’s opening ceremony on July 21, the IFMA Master of Ceremonies recognized and honored “Palestine” by allowing a Palestinian flag to fly during the international flag march and giving the honor of reading the federation’s ethical oath to a Palestinian.

The emcee said, “[R]eading the [ethical] oaths, on behalf of the team officials of participating countries, please welcome Ahmad Abu Dukan from Palestine.”

Dukan read the prepared declaration for all those present.

“In the name of all coaches, I promise that we will strictly follow the IFMA code of ethics, good governance, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spread of sportsmanship and fair play. We lead by example to our athletes and uphold the fundamental principles of IFMA, being honor, tradition, respect, excellence, and fair play.”

“How did the Palestinians get a separate team from Israel, how could they fly their flag when they are not a country, and why were they granted so much honor when they have never won a medal and have no status at all in international competitions?” Gordon asked.

The Israeli team is made up of Jews, Arabs and Druze. Israeli Arab Muslim Aref Abd Al Hai helped train Ruach and Ahavat for a competition in Turkey last year.

“There is no discrimination at all from the Israeli team,” noted Gordon. “Yet, Arab countries will not compete even against another Arab if he is on Israel’s team.”

Gordon said that at the 2018 IFMA Youth World Championship 54-kg division, in Bangkok, Thailand an Iranian Arab player Iman Hamedani refused to play against the Israeli Druze player Amit Madah.

At the 2017 Youth Muaythai World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, Palestinian competitor Sultan Abu Al-Haj refused to compete against Israeli Druze Amit Madah in the under-54-kg division.

In December 2016, IFMA was granted recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The first Muaythai Olympic competition will take place in Paris, France in 2024.

“Allowing Arab countries to get away with poor sportsmanship now as well as recognition of ‘Palestine’ will open a door that will be very hard to close at future international competitions, including the Olympics,” Gordon said. “We are still waiting for the federation as well as Israel to do something to stop this.”

Israel’s Ministry of Sports did not respond to World Israel News’ requests for comment.

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Israelis are hopeful that Samaria resident Kibedy Gordon will qualify for the World Games in 2021 and the 2024 Olympics in France.

By Tsivya Fox-Dobuler, World Israel News 

Kibedy Gordon, 19, will represent Israel in the 2019 International Federation of Muaythai (IFMA) Senior World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, from July 19 to 30.

Gordon, a resident of the biblical city of Shiloh in Samaria, is the youngest competitor in his category: Male, 57 kg (125 lbs.), Class A.

Muaythai or Thai boxing is a combat sport of Thailand that combines the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins, along with various clinching techniques.

The star athlete has been practicing Muaythai since the age of eight.

“Kibedy’s older brother Autzmaw first learned martial arts when he was a Golani soldier in the Israeli army,” Chaninat Hashem Gordon, mother of Kibedy, told World Israel News.

“This led to Muaythai, which eventually connected us to training with Benny Cogan, Israel’s national kickboxing and Muaythai coach,” she said.

The Gordon family moved to Israel in 1998 from the United States.

Not only has Chaninat raised Kibedy to be a champion, her sons Ruach and Ahavat Hashem have also won medals at international competitions, including three gold medals in the youth categories at the European Cups 2017 and 2018 in Antalya, Turkey.

Chaninat told World Israel News that Muaythai is becoming a very popular sport in Israel, as the country’s representatives in global competitions have won many championships. Winners include not only her own children, but three-time world champion Nili Block.

Kibedy’s list of accomplishments include:

● Winner at The International Championship of the Czech Republic

● The Best boxer of European Muaythai Cup 2019 in Prague’s “Open Muaythai Cup”

● Winner in an adult division in three professional fights by KO in Koh Samui Thailand 2019

● Silver medalist in the 57 kg class at the All-Russia Muaythai Championship 2016 in Russia

● Four times IBJJ Israel youth Champion 2016- 2018

● European Muaythai Champion in 2017

● Israel Muaythai Champion in the adult division in 2018 and 2019.

Two years ago, he won his first professional fight in Thailand.

This year’s IFMA Senior World Championships is the biggest yet, with competitors hailing from over 100 countries. The IFMA competitions in 2019 and 2020 are listed as official qualification events for the esteemed World Games 2021.

“Kibedy is set to compete with 24 opponents at IFMA, some of whom will be particularly challenging,” said Chaninat. “These will include athletes from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, with the toughest from Thailand.”

The proud mother was asked about athletes from Arab countries, like Iran and Iraq, who refuse to compete with Israelis. She explained that most of the athletes want to compete with Israelis but their countries of origin forbid it.

Competitors from Iran, Iraq ‘secretly like the Israeli athletes’

“My son told me that Arab athletes try to communicate with Israeli athletes through their cell phones and would like to be friendly, but it is forbidden,” she said. “They are afraid of their country’s response but secretly like the Israeli athletes. Everyone trains so hard and then they have to forfeit against Israel. It’s very sad.”

“It is an honor to stand on the winners podium as a representative of Israel, especially when facing Arab countries. We’ll see if Iraq will compete against Kibedy in this competition. That would be a big breakthrough!,” Chaninat said.

There is a long list of competitions ahead of Kibedy before he is able to reach the Olympics.

“There are a lot of people in Israel who have high hopes that Kibedy will make it to the Olympics,” Chaninat said. “He is already the best in Europe in his category. Let’s get him to Paris in 2024 and have him represent Israel.”

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