Bali Immigration Seeks Two Israeli-Born Foreigners After Viral Gym Incident

Denpasar, Bali — Immigration authorities in Bali are seeking two foreign nationals born in Israel for questioning after a video showing three foreigners being removed from a gym in Sukawati, Gianyar, went viral on social media earlier in August.

According to the Denpasar Immigration Office, officers have identified two of the three individuals featured in the video by their initials only: IB, 23, and YBH, 22. Both were born in Israel but entered Indonesia using European passports.

IB is recorded as holding a Bulgarian passport, while YBH holds a Romanian passport. Immigration data show that both entered Indonesia through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on 3 August 2026. IB arrived using a visa on arrival, while YBH entered with a visitor visa.

Denpasar Immigration Chief R. Haryo Sakti said the two have been placed on an immigration search list, or Subject of Interest (SOI), to allow officials to monitor their movements and conduct further examination. He stressed that immigration authorities have not yet concluded whether the two have committed any immigration violations and that any decision will be based on the outcome of the investigation and existing regulations.

Immigration reviews viral gym incident

Immigration’s Intelligence and Enforcement Division has reviewed the foreigners’ travel records and visited a gym in Sukawati, Gianyar, where the incident was reported to have taken place. The case began after a video circulated on social media showing the removal of three foreigners from the premises by the gym owner, accompanied by claims that the group were Israeli citizens or members of the Israeli military.

Local reporting describes the establishment as A Fitness, also known as Ayenda Fitness, located in the Sukawati area of Gianyar. The confrontation reportedly occurred in the evening of 16 August 2026, with the footage spreading widely online on 19 August.

In the viral video and subsequent coverage, the gym owner states that he decided to ask the group to leave after one of the foreigners allegedly behaved rudely toward staff. Police and immigration officials have said they are examining the incident and related claims, including allegations that the visitors were linked to the Israeli Defense Forces.

Identified foreigners under watch

Officials say they have so far been able to link immigration data to two of the three foreigners seen in the video. IB, 23, is described as a foreign national born in Israel, using a Bulgarian passport and entering Indonesia via Ngurah Rai airport on 3 August with a visa on arrival. YBH, 22, is also born in Israel and uses a Romanian passport, having entered through the same airport on the same date on a visitor visa.

Both IB and YBH have been added to the Subject of Interest list maintained by immigration, which allows officers to track and call them in for questioning. Authorities have not publicly disclosed their current whereabouts, nor have they released information identifying the third foreigner shown in the video.

Immigration officials have indicated that further interviews will be conducted with the two identified foreigners, as well as with the gym owner, to establish a full chronology and determine whether any immigration rules or other laws were breached. As of the latest statements, no formal finding of wrongdoing has been announced, and the inquiry remains focused on clarifying the circumstances surrounding the viral incident.

Sources

• Republika
• Jakarta Globe
• JPNN Bali
• Detik Bali
• CNN Indonesia
• Kumparan