Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez 'proud' of Barcelona's Yamal in Palestinian flag row

Published on 15/05/2026 - 11:06 GMT+2

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said connected Thursday that Barcelona prima Lamine Yamal had made Spain "proud" for waving a Palestinian emblem astatine a triumph parade that sparked Israeli accusations of "inciting hatred."

The 18-year-old guardant drew attraction for brandishing a Palestinian emblem during an open-top autobus parade done Barcelona connected Monday arsenic the Catalan giants celebrated their 2nd consecutive La Liga title.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz lashed retired astatine the Spain prima connected Thursday, saying helium chose to "incite hatred" against his country.

"I anticipation a large and respected nine similar Barcelona distances itself from these remarks and makes it unambiguously wide that determination is nary spot for incitement oregon enactment for terrorism," Katz said successful a Spanish-language station connected X.

Sánchez, an outspoken professional of Israel who has called its devastating two-year warfare against Palestinian militant radical Hamas successful Gaza a "genocide," deed backmost successful defence of Yamal.

"Those who deliberation that waving the emblem of a authorities is 'inciting hatred', they person either mislaid their minds oregon they person been blinded by their ain disgrace," helium wrote connected X.

"Lamine conscionable expressed the solidarity with Palestine that millions of Spaniards feel. Yet different crushed to beryllium arrogant of him," Sánchez added.

Yamal's enactment for the Palestinian cause, which enjoys wide popularity successful Spain, has not gone unnoticed successful Gaza.

Artists astatine a exile campy successful the mostly destroyed territory person painted a mural connected rubble depicting Yamal waving a Palestinian flag, a writer for the AFP quality bureau saw.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said helium "didn't like" Yamal's actions, but accepted that "if helium wants to bash it, it's his decision."

Relations betwixt Spain and Israel person plummeted since the commencement of the Gaza war, sparked by the Hamas-led onslaught connected Israel connected 7 October 2023.

Israel recalled its ambassador aft Madrid recognised a Palestinian authorities successful 2024, portion Spain formally dismissed its ain apical envoy successful Tel Aviv successful March.