Spanish PM Defends Lamine Yamal After Waving Palestinian Flag, Israel Expresses Outrage
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has defended Barcelona star Lamine Yamal after he waved a Palestinian flag during the club’s La Liga victory parade, prompting criticism from Israel.
The incident occurred during Barcelona’s open-top bus parade on Monday (11/5) local time to celebrate their second consecutive La Liga title. The 18-year-old player was seen carrying a Palestinian flag amidst the celebrations.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned Yamal’s actions, accusing him of inciting hatred against his country.
“I hope that a great and respected club like Barcelona distances itself from this statement and makes it clear that there is no place for incitement or support for terrorism,” Katz said, as quoted by AFP.
Sanchez, who has long been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, immediately defended Yamal. He had previously described Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as a “genocide.”
“Those who consider waving a flag of a country as ‘incitement to hatred’ are either out of their minds or blinded by their own shame,” Sanchez said.
“Lamine was simply expressing the solidarity with Palestine felt by millions of Spaniards. That is another reason to be proud of him,” he added.
Yamal’s support for Palestine has been noted in Gaza, with several artists in the region’s refugee camps painting murals depicting Yamal waving the Palestinian flag over the rubble of buildings.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he did not approve of Yamal’s actions, but respected the player’s decision. “I didn’t like it, but if he wanted to do it, it was his decision,” Flick said. (H-4)
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