In a move that resonated far beyond the piste, Egyptian fencer Mahmoud Mohsen, aged 23, chose not to shake hands with Israeli opponent Daniel Friedman during the World Fencing Championships in Switzerland. This act, while controversial, did not violate any international fencing rules.
The Egyptian player refuses to shake hands with the Israeli after the match
A source from the Egyptian Fencing Federation confirmed the legality of Mohsen’s action, referencing recent changes to international fencing regulations. These amendments, made in July following a similar incident involving a Ukrainian and a Russian fencer, permit athletes to abstain from the traditional post-match handshake in certain circumstances.
🚨🚨 فـيـديـو – المصري محمود محسن يهزم الإسرائيلي دانييل فريدمان 5-0 في كأس العالم للسلاح في سويسرا ثم يرفض مصافحته والأخير يشكوه للحكم! 🔥🔥🔥👏👏👏💪💪💪🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/t09imvUv3x
— Egypt Sports Network (@ESNEgypt_) November 10, 2023
Initially, international fencing rules mandated a handshake between competitors after a match. However, the modifications were made to safeguard the well-being of the athletes, allowing them personal discretion in such gestures.
Mohsen, who has previously secured a bronze in the World Junior Championships, demonstrated his stance by extending his weapon towards Friedman from a distance, rather than engaging in a handshake, after defeating him 5-0 in a group stage match. His action was spontaneous, stemming from his solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Despite facing pressures, Mohsen was supported by Egyptian sports officials and the Egyptian embassy in Switzerland. His participation in the tournament was marked by victories over competitors from Austria, Germany, and Sweden, and losses to champions from Japan and Hungary. He later advanced over Morocco’s champion but was eventually ousted by Switzerland’s contender.
