Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has become the center of a heated political and media storm in Israel after he was seen waving the Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s celebration of their La Liga title.
Video clips shared on social media show the 18-year-old player waving the Palestinian flag from the open-top bus parade through Barcelona’s streets, as thousands of fans cheered the team’s triumph. The gesture drew widespread praise from Arab and international audiences but triggered intense outrage in Israeli circles.
### Organized Political and Media Campaign
According to reports, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led the charge against the young star. On his official Facebook account, Ben-Gvir posted a sharply worded message, claiming Yamal was “raising the flag of a non-existent entity” and “aligning himself with symbols of terrorism.”
Other prominent Israeli journalists and commentators joined the attack. Tzvi Yehezkeli wrote on X (formerly Twitter) a sarcastic post saying: “Barcelona celebrates the title, and Lamine Yamal raises the flag of the PLO—an antisemitic flag.” He also noted the player’s Moroccan origin and Muslim faith, a remark observers described as inflammatory.
### Heavy Media Coverage
Israeli media outlets reported the incident with a sharply critical tone. Channel 12 claimed Yamal “turned a sporting celebration into a political event,” while Yedioth Ahronoth described his action as “a repeated expression of pro-Palestinian political stances.” The newspaper recalled that during last month’s friendly match between Egypt and Spain, Yamal ignored anti-Muslim chants from the crowd, calling it “clear political positioning.”
Walla news site argued that the player “used the global spotlight to send a political message,” while Sport5 merely highlighted his Moroccan roots and religious affiliation. ICE Sports described the scene as “one of the most striking moments of Barcelona’s title celebrations.”
### Statement from Barcelona Fan Group in Israel
In a further development, the official Barcelona fan club in Israel, known as Barca Mania, issued a strongly worded statement attacking Yamal and using derogatory language. The statement claimed his action “hurts the feelings of tens of thousands of fans” and warned of “potential economic repercussions” due to what it called “political provocation.”
The fan club said it had sent a formal protest to Barcelona’s management, adding that “hundreds of thousands of fans in Israel represent a significant consumer base for the club, and their voice must be taken seriously.”