Anwar El Ghazi donates £500,000 from wrongful dismissal settlement to Gaza children
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Anwar El Ghazi, the former Aston Villa and Everton forward, has pledged a third of his £1.27 million settlement to support children in Gaza after winning a wrongful dismissal case against his former club, Mainz. The 29-year-old Netherlands international was dismissed by the Bundesliga club in November over a social media post showing support for the Palestinian people but recently won his case in a German court.
El Ghazi’s dismissal stemmed from an Instagram post on October 17, 2023, where he posted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as Israel started its genocidal war on Gaza. Despite an incitement campaign by German media, El Ghazi maintained his stance, refusing to retract his comments, stating, “I stand for humanity and on the side of the oppressed until the last day I breathe.” The post led to his suspension, which was initially lifted before Mainz ultimately terminated his contract in November.
In July, a German court ruled in El Ghazi’s favor, ordering Mainz to pay him €1.5 million in unpaid wages and bonuses. The player announced that €500,000 of this settlement would go towards funding projects for children in Gaza, emphasizing his support for the region and the importance of standing with the oppressed.
“I would like to make clear that my legal battle with Mainz has never, for me, been about money,” El Ghazi stated. “I hope Mainz, despite their repeated failed attempts to avoid making the due payment, take solace from the knowledge that they have, through me, contributed financially in trying to make life bearable for the children of Gaza.”
The Netherlands international also criticized Mainz for attempting to silence him, claiming it had only strengthened his resolve to be a voice for the oppressed and voiceless in Gaza.
El Ghazi recently joined Cardiff City on a one-year contract as a free agent, marking his return to football following his departure from Mainz.
