Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal after the 18-year-old waved a Palestinian flag during the club's victorious title parade, calling the gesture a source of national pride. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Yamal of "inciting hatred," while Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he disliked the display but accepted it as the player's choice. The image has resonated beyond Spain — a mural in Gaza now depicts Yamal with the flag — set against deteriorating Spain–Israel relations following Madrid's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.
Spain's PM Praises Lamine Yamal After Palestinian Flag Sparks Israeli Criticism
Lamine Yamal celebrates during a La Liga match against Espanyol on April 11, 2026 (Josep LAGO)(Josep LAGO/AFP/AFP)
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly defended Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal after the 18-year-old forward waved a Palestinian flag during the club's title parade — a gesture that drew criticism from Israel and attention across Spain and Gaza.
Flag Waving Sparks Diplomatic Row
Yamal held up a Palestinian flag while riding on an open-top bus through Barcelona on Monday as the Catalan club celebrated its second straight La Liga title. The display prompted Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz to accuse the player of "inciting hatred" and to urge Barcelona to distance itself from the act.
"I hope a great and respected club like Barcelona distances itself from these remarks and makes it unambiguously clear that there is no place for incitement or support for terrorism,"
Sánchez Backs Yamal
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez — who has been an outspoken critic of Israel's conduct in Gaza and has previously used the term "genocide" to describe the conflict — rejected Katz's accusation. Sánchez said on X that waving the flag was an expression of solidarity shared by many Spaniards and called Yamal a source of national pride.
"Those who think that waving the flag of a state is 'inciting hatred', they have either lost their minds or they have been blinded by their own disgrace. Lamine just expressed the solidarity with Palestine that millions of Spaniards feel. Yet another reason to be proud of him."
Local And International Reactions
The gesture resonated beyond Spain: artists in a Gaza refugee camp painted a mural on rubble depicting Yamal waving a Palestinian flag, an AFP journalist reported. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he personally "didn't like" the action but accepted that it was the player's decision to make.
Broader Diplomatic Context
Relations between Spain and Israel have deteriorated since the Gaza war began after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Tensions intensified after Madrid recognised a Palestinian state in 2024; Israel recalled its ambassador, and Spain later dismissed its top envoy in Tel Aviv in March.
Why it matters: The episode underscores how political expressions by high-profile athletes can spark diplomatic disputes and reflect wider public sentiment amid an already strained international backdrop.
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