Israel’s defence minister has criticised Lamine Yamal after the Barcelona winger waved a Palestinian flag during the club’s La Liga title celebrations.
The 18-year-old was seen holding a large Palestinian flag while travelling on an open-top bus during Barcelona’s victory parade through the city on Monday. Local authorities said around 750,000 supporters attended the celebrations after the club secured the league title the previous day.
Yamal, who is Muslim, later posted images of himself holding the flag on Instagram.
Israeli Minister Accuses Yamal of “Inciting Hate”
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz condemned the teenager’s actions in a statement posted on X.
“Lamine Yamal chose to incite hate against Israel while our soldiers combat the terrorist organisation Hamas, an organisation that massacred, raped and burned Jewish children, women and the elderly on Oct. 7, 2023,” Katz wrote.
The comments come amid continuing global debate and protests surrounding the war in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s subsequent military response.
Political Tensions Continue to Spill Into Sport
Spain’s government and much of the country’s public opinion have been strongly critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths.
The conflict has increasingly spilled into the sporting world, with demonstrations taking place across football, basketball and cycling events in recent years.
During last year’s Vuelta a Espana, protests repeatedly disrupted racing because of the participation of an Israeli-backed cycling team.
Spain is also among five countries boycotting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in protest against Israel’s inclusion.
Yamal Set for World Cup With Spain
Despite the controversy, Yamal remains one of the key figures for both Barcelona and Spain national football team ahead of next month’s World Cup in North America.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has previously defended the winger’s right to express himself, describing the flag gesture as Yamal’s personal decision.
