Pep Guardiola has urged the world not to forget the suffering of civilians in Gaza, delivering an emotional message in support of Palestine in a video made with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The former Manchester City manager focused on the impact of the conflict on children, highlighting those who have lost family members and their homes.
Pep Guardiola’s message on Gaza
Guardiola said: “We are living through a very dark time in our history. We see girls and boys in Gaza searching for their parents among the rubble. Ask for help. Suffering from hunger. To be left alone.
“We watch them lose everything before they’ve even had a chance to grow up. And the hell continues, and with it, the dehumanisation of the Palestinian people. Their lives matter as much as ours. Their pain is not unfamiliar. Let’s not forget. Solidarity with Palestine cannot take a break. Neither can our responsibility…”
The Spanish coach has repeatedly spoken publicly about the humanitarian crisis and has used his profile in football to call for aid, solidarity and peace.
Earlier this year, Guardiola attended an “Act x Palestine” charity event in Barcelona wearing a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh. The event sought to condemn what was described as global silence and raise funds for aid workers and medical staff in Gaza.
His latest intervention has attracted substantial attention among sports and news audiences online. Guardiola remains one of football’s most recognisable figures after a managerial career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
His statements on Gaza are part of a period in which he has become more vocal on political issues, including criticism of comments about immigrants made by Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
