Spanish football manager Pep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, has faced a wave of criticism from Israeli officials and media following his emotional comments about the suffering of children in Gaza, calling what is happening there “deeply painful.”
اضافة اعلان
During a recent ceremony at the University of Manchester, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate for his contributions to the city since 2016, Guardiola delivered a powerful and heartfelt speech on global conflicts, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza.
“What we are witnessing in Gaza is incredibly painful. It hurts my body,” he said. “Thousands of innocent children are dying, and families are suffering greatly because of the violence.”
Guardiola continued:
“Maybe some think it's none of our business to care about children aged four or five being killed by bombs while hospitals are nonexistent. To those, I say: you might be next. Your child could be the next victim.”
He described seeing his own children in his mind whenever he thinks about the children in Gaza, adding:
“I'm afraid. In a world that sometimes tells us we're too small to make a difference, it's about choosing to take a stand and refusing to remain silent when it matters.”
Israeli Response
In response, Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar attacked Guardiola’s comments, saying:
“You're right, Pep. Children in Europe could be next on the list of Islamic terrorist organizations. They've said before: once they finish with Israel, they’ll come for the rest of the free world. If Israel falls, you're next.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority criticized Guardiola for what it described as a one-sided narrative, accusing him of failing to mention Israeli hostages held in Gaza while extensively discussing the plight of Gazans.
Guardiola's Message of Humanity
In his speech, Guardiola emphasized that his stance is not about ideology, but about humanity. He ended with a symbolic story:
He described a forest fire, where birds tried to put out the flames by carrying drops of water, mocked by a snake. The small bird replied that he knew he couldn’t stop the fire, but he was doing his part.
“This is the story of the world,” Guardiola concluded. “They tell us we’re too small to make a difference. But the truth is, the power of this world lies not in strength, but in standing for what’s right—and speaking up when silence is not an option.”
Guardiola’s comments have sparked both admiration and controversy, highlighting once again the deep political sensitivities surrounding public figures speaking out on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
