Earlier this week, Kuwaiti jiu-jitsu player Abdullah Al-Anjari quit an international championship in Los Angeles after he was pitted against an Israeli player.
The young champ announced his decision in a post he uploaded on Twitter, in which her wrote:
"I announce my withdrawal from a local championship held in Los Angeles after a draw pitted me against a player who represents the Zionist state."
Al-Anjari's tweet has since gone viral and his story is now making headlines across the Arab world.
In a Skype interview he did with Ana Alaraby TV, the young athlete, who currently studies in San Diego University, further explained the reasons behind his decision to quit the championship.
"As an Arab, Muslim and Kuwaiti person, my principles do not allow me to take part in anything with a person or player from the Zionist state," he said.
He also called on all Arab athletes to boycott all Israeli sports teams at international events. On Monday, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement issued a statement commending Al-Anjari for his move and hailing his home country for firmly standing against the "racist occupation of Palestinian land."
"A salute to the Arab Kuwaiti champion and winner of the gold medal in the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation Championship Abdullah Al-Anjari, who withdrew from a U.S. tournament after he refused to play with an Israeli player," the statement read.
Many hailed the young athlete for his decision
"Fighting normalization lies in taking action. This represents Kuwaiti people who absolutely refuse to normalize relationships with Israel."
"You're a champion with your athleticism and manners"
"Your decision reflects Kuwait's official stance on this matter"
"In an age of let downs and normalization, this alone is an act of heroism"
Not the first time Israel is snubbed by Arabs at sports events
This isn't the first time Arab sports figures quit championships after refusing to normalize ties with Israel and its representatives at international events.
Their walk-outs reflect a stance shared by millions across the region, who do not acknowledge Israel as a state and consider it an enemy who continues to illegally occupy Palestine.
Last year, Saudi Arabia's national junior badminton team quit an international championship in Ukraine when it became apparent that one of the players on their opponent's team was Israeli.
In 2016, Egypt's judoka Islam El Shehaby left the Rio Olympics after refusing to shake hands with an Israeli opponent.
In that same year, Lebanese athletes refused to share a bus with Israel’s team.