Kuwaiti Jiu-Jitsu Champion Refuses Israeli Athlete's Handshake Amid Anti-Israel Sentiment
A Kuwaiti Muslim jiu-jitsu champion refused to shake the hand of an Israeli athlete during a medal ceremony in Abu Dhabi, saying 'We do not respect them at all'. Jassim Alhatem defended the snub in an Arabic-language statement later on Friday.
A Kuwaiti Muslim jiu-jitsu champion refused to shake hands with an Israeli athlete during a medal ceremony in Abu Dhabi, citing a lack of respect for Israel, and later defended his decision in an Arabic-language post on social media. The incident occurred at the UAE-hosted tournament where Jassim Alhatem won a gold medal and Yoav Manors took bronze. Alhatem stated that Kuwaiti athletes do not attend Israeli events due to their 'occupation of Palestine' and added that he did not want to 'contribute to the Israeli occupation'. The incident has sparked debate on social media, with some supporting Alhatem's stance while others criticized his refusal to shake hands as a lack of sportsmanship.
