Ammar Hamayel, a member of Palestine’s national youth Muay Thai team and described by IFMA as a "youth peace ambassador", was killed on June 23 during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank. According to Defense for Children International – Palestine, Ammar was shot in the back while walking with a friend in the village of Beitin, near Ramallah. The report says Israeli soldiers fired from a concealed position, then detained the wounded boy for two hours before handing him to a Palestinian ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
IFMA'S SANCTIONS ON ISRAEL
In response, IFMA has banned the display of all Israeli national symbols — including the flag, anthem, and emblems — at any IFMA or IFMA-sanctioned competition. Effective immediately, Israeli Muay Thai athletes may still compete internationally, but only as Neutral Individual Athletes, a status already applied to competitors from Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions also prohibit IFMA or IFMA-affiliated events from being hosted in Israel until further notice. The Muay Thai federation stressed that the measures are “not a reflection on Israeli athletes, who remain “valued members of the IFMA family”, but rather a peaceful protest against actions that endanger children and undermine the values of global sport.
A CALL TO ACTION
"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."
The sanctions will remain in effect until further notice and will be periodically reviewed by the IFMA Executive Board. “IFMA remains committed to peace, inclusion, and human dignity,” the organisation stated. “We will continually review our policies in accordance with global developments, always guided by our mission to be a force for good in a divided world.”
