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Barcelona and Spain footballer Lamine Yamal waved a Palestinian flag during the club's La Liga title celebration parade in Barcelona on May 12, 2026. The 18-year-old joined teammates on an open-top bus hours after the team defeated Real Madrid 2-0 to secure the championship. Video of the gesture drew reactions from Palestinians in Gaza, football fans, activists and athletes worldwide.
middleeasteye.netSpanish football player Lamine Yamal waved a large Palestinian flag while standing on an open-top bus during Barcelona's championship parade in the Catalan capital on May 12, 2026. The 18-year-old participated in the event hours after his team defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clasico, securing its second consecutive La Liga title.
Yamal had missed the match due to injury but joined his teammates for the celebration with thousands of fans lining the streets. Video clips of Yamal holding and waving the flag spread rapidly on social media. Palestinians in Gaza and supporters elsewhere described the action as a show of solidarity.
Muhammed Akram, a Palestinian student in Gaza, wrote that the gesture "reaches the heart in ways words cannot describe" and added, "Thank you, Lamine Yamal. " The Palestinian flag has been displayed at protests and public events in hundreds of cities over the past two and a half years.
Activists view such displays as expressions of support for Palestinians in Gaza. Al Jazeera reported that more than 72,740 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including 854 during a ceasefire that began last October.
Reactions to the Gesture Lebanese political activist and writer Dyab Abou Jahjah posted, "When you have a platform, use it. When you have a voice, speak out. " Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick told reporters he had spoken with Yamal about the incident.
" Yamal later posted several photos from the parade, including one with the Palestinian flag, on his Instagram account, which has 44.2 million followers. The post received 5.3 million likes and more than 100,000 shares. " Teammate Marcus Rashford and Dutch footballer Anwar El Ghazi were among those who also commented.
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement posted on its Spanish account, "Thanks for this gesture full of humanity. " Palestinian football expert Bassil Mikdadi wrote that Yamal showed the spirit of Barcelona and its fans beyond the club's commercial activities.
Some social media users opposed to the gesture said Yamal should not play for Spain or receive individual awards. Others praised the action. Barcelona-based academic and activist Neus Torbisco Casals wrote that the gesture represented "solidarity and human dignity" and highlighted bonds between Catalonia and Palestine based on shared aspirations for self-determination and rights.
Yamal, a Muslim whose father moved from Morocco to Spain, has previously spoken against racism and Islamophobia in football. " Yamal has scored 30 goals in more than 100 appearances for Barcelona and six goals in 25 appearances for Spain. Palestinians in Gaza continued to express appreciation for the gesture hours after the videos appeared.
Haitham el-Masri, a student in Gaza, wrote that the 14-second clip made him "burst into tears" and described it as a moment that would remain in history.
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