Football team for amputees in Gaza honors Guardiola for his support of Palestine
The “Gaza of Will” amputee football team in the Gaza Strip announced the appointment of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as the team’s honorary coach, in recognition of his public support for the Palestinian cause.
The “Gaza of Will” amputee football team in the Gaza Strip presented a letter of thanks and appreciation to the renowned Spanish coach, Pep Guardiola.
According to Anadolu Agency on Monday, the team bestowed upon Guardiola the title of “Honorary Coach of the Team” in appreciation of his public support for the Palestinian cause and his condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.
One of the team’s players said in a video message that circulated on social media: “We extend our thanks to the world-renowned and esteemed coach Pep Guardiola for his humanitarian stances and for standing with the Palestinian people in general.”
He added: “On behalf of the Gaza Will team, we send him a message: we announce to the world that Captain Guardiola is the honorary coach of this team.”
During the training session, two players from the Gaza Will team held up a picture of Guardiola, while the players lined up on both sides of the field, saluting and applauding in gratitude and appreciation for his support of the Palestinian cause.
The scene unfolded on an open field surrounded by destroyed residential buildings, reflecting the scale of the devastation wrought by the Israeli aggression, a stark contrast between the will to live and the ravages of destruction.
The players conducted their training using crutches and prosthetic limbs, under difficult humanitarian conditions, continuing their exercises despite the loss of limbs.
This gesture followed a wave of reactions sparked by Guardiola on social media platforms after he renewed his public support for Palestine, calling on the international community to take urgent action to protect innocent civilians.
Guardiola condemned the silence and indifference towards what is happening in the Gaza Strip.
Last Thursday, Guardiola participated in a charity campaign titled “For Palestine” held in Barcelona, Spain. He appeared wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and delivered a moving speech criticizing the neglect of the Palestinians’ suffering, evoking images of children searching for their families under the rubble.
During his speech, the Spanish coach emphasized that the world had failed and abandoned these children, stressing his unwavering support for the oppressed wherever they may be.
He considered the situation in the Gaza Strip primarily a humanitarian issue before it is a political one.
Guardiola also recalled Barcelona’s history during the bombing of the city in 1938, arguing that solidarity with the most vulnerable peoples today is a continuation of the humanitarian stances adopted by major cities like London and Paris in earlier historical periods.
This is not the first time Guardiola has declared his support for the Palestinians. Months earlier, he publicly expressed his rejection of any justification for the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
He also criticized political leaders who, according to him, prioritize their own interests over humanitarian values. With American and European support, the Israeli enemy army has committed genocide, siege, and starvation in the Gaza Strip for over two consecutive years since October 7, 2023. This has resulted in the deaths of 71,800 Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are children and women, and injuries to 171,555 others to date—a toll that is not yet final, as thousands of victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, inaccessible to ambulance and rescue teams.
A ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip came into effect on October 10, 2023, following a two-year-long Zionist war of genocide. However, the Israeli enemy army continues to violate the agreement daily and still prevents the entry of most humanitarian aid into the Strip.