Celebrated Barcelona's victory with the Palestinian flag, Lamine Yamal raises Israel to its feet: The flag he was holding does not exist... the son of a Muslim

Barcelona's young star, Lamine Yamal, has faced harsh criticism from Israeli political and media figures, particularly from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, after he was seen holding the Palestinian flag during Barcelona's championship title celebrations in Spain.

Videos shared by several Catalan sports accounts on the X platform showed the 18-year-old waving the Palestinian flag from the open-top team bus as Barcelona fans cheered around them. The images went viral online, drawing praise from fans around the world but also sparking outrage in Israel.

Ben-Gvir was among the most vocal critics, responding in a post on his official Facebook account. He wrote:

“Someone needs to explain to Lamine Yamal that he was raising the flag of an entity that ‘doesn’t exist.’”

He further claimed that this flag represents violence and terrorism, adding that anyone who chooses to identify with what he described as a "terrorist flag" should not be surprised by the hostility of Israelis.

Reactions of Israeli media and journalists

Ben-Gvir was not the only Israeli public figure to criticize Yamal's actions. Veteran journalists and activists also reacted:

* Tzvi Yehezkeli (Journalist): Wrote on Platform X questioning the player's gesture during the parade. He made political comments about the symbolism of the flag and pointed out Yamal's origins, noting that his father is a Muslim immigrant from Morocco.

* Channel 12 (Israel): Commented that Yamal used the football celebration to express a political stance. The media noted that, while other Barcelona players celebrated wearing club scarves, he chose to celebrate with the Palestinian flag.

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