In Abu Dhabi, Kuwaiti jiu-jitsu gold medalist Jassim Alhatem refused to shake Israeli bronze medalist Yoav Manor’s hand during a medal ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, and later explained his stance in an Arabic-language video. The incident touched off a tense exchange at the podium, drew statements from the Israeli delegation and Israel’s coaching staff, and left organizers trying to calm the situation at the event in the United Arab Emirates.
The match results were straightforward: Manor took bronze in the men’s blue belt amateur under-77kg division after winning three of his four bouts, while Alhatem won all four of his matches to claim gold. What drew attention was not the scorecard but the actions on the podium, where sportsmanship normally seals the competition. Instead, it became a flashpoint between politics and sport.
At the medal ceremony, Alhatem declined to shake Manor’s hand and refused to take part in the winners’ photograph with him. Witnesses reported that Alhatem told nearby members of the Israeli delegation, “You Israelis kill children,” and that he would not have faced Manor if the Israeli had reached the final. The refusal to participate left organizers scrambling to defuse immediate tensions.
Alhatem later defended his conduct in a circulating Arabic-language video, where English translations include the phrase “Zionist entity” when he referred to Israel and his insistence that Muslim men “must have a principle.” He said he had warned Manor before the podium, explaining, “I don’t want to know you, and I don’t want to greet you. Stay on your side, and I’ll stay on my side, so [there would be] no problem.” Those comments made plain that he viewed the gesture as more than a routine act of sportsmanship.
He went further in the same remarks, telling viewers, “We do not play with these types. We do not respect these types,” and adding, “As Kuwaitis, we do not respect them at all.” He rejected the idea that sport should be isolated from politics, arguing that athletes have responsibilities beyond the mat. “The last thing, guys, advice from a brother: have a principle,” he said. “You, as a Muslim man, must have a principle.”
Alhatem also referenced international sanctions in his comments, pointing to Russia’s restrictions in global sport as proof that politics and athletics are intertwined. Officials at the Olympic level do allow some athletes to compete under neutral status in certain cases, but national representation can be blocked depending on geopolitical circumstances. That argument framed his refusal as a principled stance rather than a personal affront.
Yoav Manor maintained his composure throughout the incident and afterward, focusing on the achievement of winning a bronze medal at a major international competition. The Israeli delegation issued a statement noting that “despite the tension, the organizers and Emirati hosts tried to calm the situation and persuade the Kuwaiti competitor to take part in the medal ceremony, but he chose to leave the podium area. Manor, for his part, remained focused on the sporting achievement: a bronze medal at a prestigious international competition, after an impressive day of bouts against opponents from around the world.” Coaches also praised Manor’s restraint.
Amir Boaron, coach of Israel’s national jiu-jitsu team, said Manor continued trying to shake Alhatem’s hand and “behave like an athlete.” Arik Kaplan, president and CEO of Ayelet, praised Manor for showing “character, restraint and values.” Organizers and hosts at the Abu Dhabi event sought to calm the exchange and keep the focus on competition, but the podium moment underscored how international tensions can surface in sport.
The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the AJP Tour and Jassim Alhatem did not respond to requests for comment about the incident. For many competitors and fans the episode was an unwelcome reminder that international events do not always erase real-world disputes, and that gestures meant to unite can instead highlight divisions. The tournament continued, but the podium exchange left a clear mark on what had otherwise been a day of high-level jiu-jitsu.
