Israeli minister accuses Barcelona star of “inciting hatred” against his country

Israel Katz, Defence Minister of Israel, has accused Lamine Yamal, young Barcelona player, of what he described as “inciting hatred” against Israel, for waving a Palestinian flag during FC Barcelona's championship celebrations this week.

In a statement posted on X, Katz sharply criticized the 18-year-old FC Barcelona winger, claiming his actions fueled hostility toward Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Caliber.Az reports.

“Lamine Yamal chose to incite against Israel and foment hatred while our soldiers are fighting the terrorist organization Hamas,” Katz wrote, referring to the October 7 attacks and listing what he described as atrocities committed during the outbreak of the conflict.

Lamine Yamal eligió incitar contra Israel y fomentar el odio mientras nuestros soldados combaten a la organización terrorista Hamas, una organización que masacró, violó, quemó y asesinó a niños, mujeres y ancianos judíos el 7 de octubre.
Quien apoya este tipo de mensajes debe…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 14, 2026

Katz also directly addressed FC Barcelona, urging the club to publicly distance itself from the player’s remarks.

“I expect a great and respected club like FC Barcelona to distance itself from these statements and make it unequivocally clear that there is no place for incitement or for support of terrorism,” he stated.

The dispute centers on messages and imagery recently shared by Yamal, which Israeli officials characterized as hostile toward Israel. The Israeli government has increasingly intensified what it describes as “digital diplomacy,” publicly responding to statements by high-profile athletes, celebrities, and influencers who criticize Israeli military operations or express support for Palestinians.

By Vafa Guliyeva