Soccer players around the world have spoken out against the past week’s violence taking place in Palestine and Israel.
The death toll has passed 200 with Gaza being hit the hardest. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 197 people, including 58 children and 34 women, have been killed in Gaza during the past week from Israeli attacks. The Israel Defense Forces said that 10 Israelis have been killed by rockets from militants in Gaza.
Players have taken to social media to denounce the violence with some demonstrating on the field. Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury and Wesley Fofana held up the Palestine flag after defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Wesley Fofana holds up a Palestine flag following the FA Cup victory with Leicester in response to the ongoing violence in Gaza. (via @IshaqChebli) pic.twitter.com/ubimgu5RsU
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 15, 2021
In Australia’s A-League, former Brighton and Hove Albion striker and Israel international Tomer Hemed celebrated a goal with the flag of Israel on Sunday.
A-League: Phoenix not expecting punishment for striker Tomer Hemed after pro-Israeli celebrationshttps://t.co/1gSmAMsoWO pic.twitter.com/bd9pSeyG8a
— Newshub Sport (@NewshubSport) May 17, 2021
Hemed then posted on Instagram: “This game is dedicated to you my dear country. My heart is with you Restore peace soon Amen. Physically far away but my heart is there with you. Praying for quieter days.”
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Former Real Madrid midfielder Jose Rodriguez changed his Twitter cover image to the flag of Israel and denounced pro-Palestine protests in Madrid. Rodriguez started his career in Madrid and now plays for Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League.
חוסה רודריגס, לו כ-350 אלף עוקבים בטוויטר, שינה את תמונת הקאבר שלו לדגל ישראל pic.twitter.com/9oqlPeYCmd
— sport1 (@Sport1_Sport2) May 12, 2021
Premier League stars Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Elneny all posted on social media in solidarity with Palestine.
I’m calling on all the world leaders including on the Prime Minister of the country that has been my home for the past 4 years to do everything in their power to make sure the violence and killing of innocent people stops immediately. Enough is enough. @BorisJohnson
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 11, 2021
#Palestine #SaveSheikhJarrah pic.twitter.com/t1JdD24chc
— Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) May 10, 2021
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my heart and my soul and my support for you Palestine pic.twitter.com/ywrpPk5Xmf
— Mohamed ELNeny (@ElNennY) May 10, 2021
Support for Palestine was also seen in Turkey, Chile and Scotland. Mesut Ozil and Fenerbahce players warmed up in shirts saying “Free Palestine” prior to their game against Sivasspor.
Turkish football team players of Fenerbahce wear "Free Palestine" jerseys before a league match with Demir Grup Sivasspor to express solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli attack pic.twitter.com/yvt8UIBIC8
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) May 11, 2021
In Chile, Club Deportivo Palestine – a team created by Palestinian immigrants over a century ago – wore the keffiyeh before kickoff in solidarity with the Palestinians.
#VamosPalestino pic.twitter.com/sy3TipwetX
— Club Deportivo Palestino (@CDPalestinoSADP) May 9, 2021
Celtic fan collective North Curve Celtic filled its section of Celtic Park with Palestine flags ahead of the club’s game vs. St. Johnstone.
The North Curve is flying the flag for Palestine at tonight's Celtic game pic.twitter.com/Rxmv0Jqo7J
— North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) May 12, 2021
