November 17 – A group of Palestinian footballers played a Basque country team on Saturday in a friendly match in front of 50,000 fans, coloured by political overtones linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Featuring players from Athletic and Real Sociedad, ’Euskadi’ won the match 3-0, but the match was largely a show of support for the Palestinian cause. The game at the San Maes Stadium in Bilbao was a mass of Palestinian flags with a march preceding the match.
On Facebook, Yaser Hamed, a Palestinian national team player, wrote: “The game I always dreamed of came true. San Mamés, a historic stadium, united by a message of peace. Thank you for being part of an unforgettable night!”
Spain has seen demonstrations against Israel’s military response to the Hamas attack of October 2023. Bilbao was at the heart of the pro-Palestine protests during the recent Vuelta a España, one of the world’s most famous cycling races, with hundreds of protesters forcing the suspension of the eleventh stage.
It marked a turning point in the race as protests over the participation of the Israel Premier Tech team intensified. That culminated with the failure to complete the Vuelta’s final stage in Madrid.
On Tuesday, the Palestinian team is set to face a selection of players from Catalonia, in Barcelona.
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