Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Palestine Plays Basque Country in Bilbao Amid Gaza Conflict Protests
Imagine two teams of soccer players playing a friendly game.
One team was from Palestine, and the other team was made up of players from a region in Spain called the Basque Country.
The game happened in a big stadium in Spain, and lots of people came to watch, holding flags.
Many fans were showing support for Palestine because of what's happening in Gaza.
The Palestinian team said that their sports have been hurt a lot by fighting, with fields destroyed and players hurt or killed.
They wanted to use this game to tell the world to help stop the fighting.
Spain has had many protests about the situation in Gaza.
This game was a way for the Palestinian players and fans to share their message.
A friendly football match was played between Palestinian footballers and Spanish players from the Basque Country in Bilbao.
The match took place at San Mames Stadium with around 50,000 spectators in attendance.
Many fans waved Palestinian flags, and protests against Israel's actions in Gaza have been prevalent in Spain.
The Palestinian Football Association stated that conflict has devastated Palestinian football, destroying infrastructure and causing casualties.
The Palestinian team is scheduled to play another match against players from Catalonia in Barcelona on Tuesday.
- Who
- A selection of Palestinian footballers and Spanish footballers from the Basque Country
- What
- Played a friendly football match with political overtones amidst protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.
- When
- Saturday, November 15, 2025 (Implied)
- Where
- San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, Spain
- Why
- To raise awareness and send a message about the conflict in Gaza, with significant protests against Israel's military response occurring in Spain.
Palestinian Football Association & Supporters
Context of Israeli Actions
Impact of Conflict on Palestinian Football
Palestinian Football Association & Supporters
The Palestinian Football Association states that Israeli actions have devastated Palestinian football, destroying infrastructure, killing athletes (including their most famous player, Suleiman Al-Obeid), injuring hundreds, and leaving many missing. They call for sanctions against Israel and urge international pressure to 'stop this genocide.'
Context of Israeli Actions
The article notes that Israel's actions are in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, and describes these actions as military response. The Spanish government has described the bombardment as genocide.
Purpose of the Match
Palestinian Football Association & Supporters
The match is framed as a friendly with political overtones, intended to raise awareness and send a message to the world to pressure the 'occupation' to stop the 'genocide.' Fans waved Palestinian flags, and a significant number of people marched with flags before the game.
Context of Israeli Actions
The friendly match was organized as Spain has seen significant protests against Israel's military response. Bilbao has previously hosted protests against an Israeli-owned cycling team.
- Match
- Friendly match between Palestinian footballers and Spanish footballers from the Basque Country
- Location
- San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, Spain
- Date
- Saturday, November 15, 2025 (Implied, based on 'this summer' and 'Tuesday' for a future match)
- Attendance
- Around 50,000 spectators
- Palestinian Football Federation President
- Jibril Rajoub
- Palestinian Footballer Nickname
- "Palestinian Pele" (Suleiman Al-Obeid)