Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez 'proud' of Barcelona's Yamal in Palestinian flag row

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has come to the defence of Barcelona star Lamin Yamal saying he had made Spain proud for waving a Palestinian flag at a victory parade. The 18-year-old forward drew attention for brandishing a Palestinian flag during an open-top bus parade through Barcelona on Monday as the Catalan giants celebrated their second Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz lashed out at the Spanish star on Thursday, accusing him of, quote, inciting hatred towards Israel and towards Jews. In a statement on social media platform X, Katz added that a great and respected club like Barcelona should distance itself from the gesture and make it clear that there is no place for incitement or for support of terrorism. Sanchez, an outspoken critic of Israel who has called its devastating two-year war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza a genocide, hit back in defence of Yamal. Relations between Spain and Israel have plummeted since the start of the Gaza war, sparked by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.