Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a strong public statement condemning Israel's military actions in Gaza, describing the situation as 'massacres' and expressing that the international community has failed the Palestinian people.
Guardiola's Emotional Radio Interview
The Spanish football coach delivered his powerful verdict during an interview with Spanish radio station RAC1 on Monday. The 54-year-old manager did not hold back his feelings about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
'Every time I imagine what is happening to the people of Palestine, it's that the whole world has left them alone,' Guardiola told the radio station. He emphasized that innocent Palestinians are suffering through no fault of their own, stating that 'They are not to blame for being born in Palestine.'
Strong Words on Genocide and World Leaders
Guardiola questioned why people hesitate to call the situation genocide when the evidence seems clear to him. 'There, for a very long time now, we have allowed the destruction of an entire people,' he stated passionately.
The Manchester City manager expressed his disbelief that anyone could defend the actions being taken in Gaza. 'I can't imagine a person in this world who could defend this. I can't wrap my head around it,' he said, noting that even Jewish people and Israelis he knows don't support what's happening.
Guardiola also criticized world leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Vladimir Putin, suggesting that the problem extends beyond political alliances. 'It's not about siding with who is right,' he explained, but rather about recognizing the human tragedy unfolding.
Charity Match for Palestine
Guardiola's comments came ahead of the ACT x Palestine charity friendly match between Catalonia and Palestine at Barcelona's Lluis Companys Stadium. The former Barcelona manager highlighted the importance of this event.
'It's more than just a symbolic match,' Guardiola said about the charity game. 'These days, everyone knows everything and with this game, the Palestinians will see that there's a part of the world that cares about them.'
The charity match has already sold more than 25,000 tickets, with all proceeds going toward funding humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. According to Gaza Health Ministry figures, approximately 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the October 7 attacks of 2023.
Guardiola concluded by expressing his clear stance on the conflict: 'I am absolutely taking the side of Palestine, the innocent people who are murdered daily.' He questioned why peaceful solutions like ceasefires aren't being prioritized over military force when there's such a clear power imbalance between the two sides.
