Occupied Palestine (QNN)- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called on FC Barcelona to “disavow” football star Lamine Yamal after he waved a Palestinian flag during the club’s championship celebrations this week. The Spanish Prime Minister slammed Israel's attack on Yamal, saying he "has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine felt by millions of Spaniards."
Israel Katz said he expected Barcelona to "disavow" the action of the 18-year-old star after footage widely circulated of Yamal holding a Palestinian flag atop the team's open-top bus during celebrations for the club's 29th Spanish league title on Monday, a day after Barcelona's 2–0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clásico secured the La Liga title.
"Yamal chose to incite against Israel and encourage hatred while our soldiers are fighting the Hamas terror group,” Katz claimed on X. "As Israel's defense minister, I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and against Jews."
Katz added that he expected "a large and respected club like Barcelona" to make clear that "there is no place for incitement and support for terrorism."
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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick addressed the action on Tuesday, saying he had spoken to Yamal about the incident.
The Israeli supporters' group Barcamania Israel called Yamal's actions "stupid and irresponsible" and said it had filed a complaint with the club.
On Thursday, the fan club published what it said was an official response from FC Barcelona, in which the club said the moment "was not intended in any way to convey a political statement" on behalf of Barcelona.
Yamal, who looked relaxed as he stood along the rail on the right-hand side of the bus, missed Sunday’s fixture due to an injury, but joined his teammates in the champions’ parade the following day.
Video clips of his apparent act of support for the people of Palestine immediately went viral on social media, with football fans, experts, activists, and players praising the teenage icon.
The Spanish Prime Minister slammed Katz’s attack on Yamal. “Those who consider waving the flag of a State to be "inciting hatred" have either lost their judgment or been blinded by their own ignominy. Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine felt by millions of Spaniards. Another reason to be proud of him.”
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“To some, it may look like a simple gesture, but here in Gaza, it reaches the heart in ways words cannot describe,” wrote Muhammed Akram, a Palestinian student in Gaza.
“Thank you, Lamine Yamal. From Gaza, you are loved more than you know.”
Palestine’s flag has been raised by protesters and pro-Palestine activists in hundreds of cities worldwide over the past two and a half years amid the ongoing Israeli genocidal war in Gaza, in an act of solidarity with Palestinians.
Following the celebrations, the Spanish forward posted a photo of himself with the Palestinian flag, along with others from the event, on his Instagram account.
Yamal has 44.2 million followers on the social media platform, where his post was liked by 5.3 million users and had more than 100,000 shares.
Prominent Palestinian writer and poet Mosab Abu Toha commented on Yamal’s post, saying, “We love you, from Gaza.”
The Barca striker’s British teammate Marcus Rashford and Dutch footballer Anwar El Ghazi were among the 166,000 people to comment on his post, which comprised seven photos.
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The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which was launched in 2005 to advocate for Palestinian rights and end Israel’s occupation in Palestinian territory, also appreciated Yamal’s heroics.
“Thanks for this gesture full of humanity,” the movement’s Spanish account tweeted. “Sport has the power to make visible what the world must not forget.”
Meanwhile, a number of pro-Israel social media users attacked Yamal and said he “should never don the Spain shirt” and that his actions should be enough to ensure he does not win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award despite his on-field performance for club and country.
