MUSCAT (Dispatches) – Oman has officially withdrawn from the 2024 Beach Club World Cup in Italy, which commenced on Tuesday, in protest against the Zionist regime’s participation in the tournament. 
The move is seen as a demonstration of Oman’s continued support for the Palestinian cause and its refusal to engage with the Zionist regime in any international platform.
The decision has been met with wide approval in Oman, including praise from the country’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamad Al-Khalili, who described the withdrawal as a principled and moral stance in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Grand Mufti, in a statement, commended the nation’s leadership for taking a stand against what he termed as “normalization with the Occupiers”. He further emphasized that this decision aligns with Oman’s long-standing position on Palestine and the Israeli Occupation.
The Omani Football Association released a brief statement outlining the reasons for the withdrawal, noting that the country remains firm in its commitment to supporting Palestinian rights and opposing Israeli aggression in the Occupied Territories.
This move comes at a time when the participation of Israel in international events continues to spark debate, particularly in West Asia, where many nations have refused to normalize relations with the regime. Oman’s decision reflects its continued refusal to engage with the Zionist regime diplomatically or on the sports field, despite growing regional trends of normalization by a few countries, following the so-called Abraham Accords signed by several Arab states.
Oman’s withdrawal highlights the ongoing tension between nations that support the Palestinian cause and those willing to engage with the regime, further showcasing how sports can often intersect with geopolitics. The decision by Oman sends a clear signal of solidarity with Palestine to the global community.