Israeli defence minister accuses Barcelona footballer of ‘inciting hate’ for waving Palestine flag

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz criticised the Barcelona football player Lamine Yamal, who raised a Palestinian flag during a victory parade by the team through Barcelona on Monday.

In a statement posted on X, Katz said that the 18-year-old football star was “inciting hatred” against Israel and “supporting terrorism” for waving the flag and called on FC Barcelona to distance itself from him.

Palestinian artists paint a mural depicting football player Lamine Yamal waving a Palestinian flag during the Catalans' title parade, on the rubble of buildings destroyed during the war, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp in Gaza City on May 13, 2026. Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP
Palestinian artists paint a mural of football player Lamine Yamal on rubble of buildings destroyed during the war on Gaza, on 13 May 2026 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP)

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This article was sourced from Middle East Eye.

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