After Israeli politicians and sports officials harshly criticized Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for waving the Palestinian flag during Barcelona's title celebrations, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez came to his defense.
In a post on social media, Pedro Sanchez said he was proud of the Barcelona star for his behavior during the title celebrations.
"Those who consider the waving of the national flag 'incitement to hatred' have either lost their minds or are blinded by their own shame," Sanchez said.
He also said that Yamal expressed a message that is known to everyone in the world and that there is nothing controversial about it.
"Lamine simply expressed the solidarity with Palestine that millions of Spaniards feel. Another reason to be proud of him," the Spanish prime minister said.
Sanchez was reacting to a social media post by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who earlier that morning had accused Yamal of inciting hatred.
"As Defense Minister of the State of Israel, I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and against the Jewish people," Katz previously wrote on his X account.
Yamali's gesture was echoed in Gaza, where artists in the refugee camp painted a mural on the ruins, depicting Yamali waving a Palestinian flag. /Telegraph/
