To Watch Spain Win, Gazans Brave Bombs in Search of Internet

The celebration of Spain’s World Cup victory extended beyond Madrid and Barcelona to the ruins of displacement camps in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. For Gazans, La Roja’s triumph carries an emotional significance that far transcends the boundaries of the football pitch. Amid the ever-present threat of conflict, Gazans flocked to cafes and open-air screening points, waving Spanish flags and expressing their joy at the victory of Luis de la Fuente’s team. This support is not without reason; Spain is known as one of the European countries that consistently speaks out against Israeli violence and defends the humanitarian rights of the Palestinian people. Many residents waved the Spanish flag while paying tribute to young star Lamine Yamal, who previously held a Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s La Liga victory celebrations. ‘Anyone who raises the Palestinian flag deserves to lift the World Cup trophy,’ wrote the Gaza amputee football team, Gaza al-Irada, in a video message of support for the Spanish team before the match. Saadi al-Masri, 40, captain of the Gaza al-Irada amputee football team, watched the final with his teammates at a local cafe. ‘I support Spain because we see this country standing with the struggle of the Palestinian people and supporting our rights,’ he said. Conversely, the close political relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Argentine President Javier Milei led the Gazan public to emotionally side with Spain in the final. Despite severe shortages of electricity and internet in displacement camps, enthusiasm for following the tournament remained high. Arkan al-Walaida, 23, a Gazan who had to struggle to find a cafe with internet access every morning, was deeply moved when he learned of Spain’s victory. ‘Honestly, I almost cried with happiness,’ he said. However, the shadow of conflict meant celebrations were muted. In early July, an Israeli bombing killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian humanitarian worker who had been actively organising public screening areas for World Cup matches in Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed the strike but claimed their target was not the aid worker. Amid the grief and limitations, Spain’s victory is still seen by Gazans as a glimmer of humanitarian solidarity from the international sporting stage.