A team of Palestinian footballers played a friendly match against a selection of players from Spain’s Basque Country on Saturday, in a fixture marked by political symbolism tied to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Organizers reported that around 50,000 spectators held tickets for the game at San Mames Stadium, home of Athletic Bilbao. The atmosphere was charged, with many fans waving Palestinian flags alongside flags of the Basque region. Ahead of kickoff, several thousand people marched with banners and flags in solidarity.
The match comes amid widespread protests in Spain against Israel’s military response to the October 2023 Hamas attack. Bilbao itself has been a focal point of activism, previously hosting large demonstrations against an Israeli-owned cycling team during the Spanish Vuelta in September.
The Basque squad featured players from Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and other professional clubs, though Spain’s national team members were unavailable due to a World Cup qualifier.
The Palestinian side is set to continue its symbolic tour, with another friendly scheduled against a selection of players from Catalonia in Barcelona on Tuesday.
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