Pep Guardiola Criticized for UNRWA Support Amidst Gaza Conflict
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Football manager Pep Guardiola has been heavily criticized by Israeli figures for supporting UNRWA and speaking out about the deaths of children in Gaza. Former goalkeeper Dudu Aouate and Yosef Haddad accused Guardiola of supporting terrorism and ignoring facts about UNRWA's alleged ties to Hamas. Guardiola's video message, emphasizing the humanity of those killed in Gaza, received broad international media coverage, largely without critical commentary.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Football manager Pep Guardiola is facing criticism for supporting UNRWA and speaking about the Gaza conflict.
- Former Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate called Guardiola a hypocrite supporting terrorism.
- Yosef Haddad accused Guardiola of lying and financially supporting Hamas through UNRWA.
- Guardiola stated that children killed in Gaza are not collateral damage but human lives.
- His message received widespread international media coverage, largely uncriticized.
- UNRWA recently fired nine employees over alleged involvement in the October 7th massacre.
Football manager Pep Guardiola has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli figures for his public support of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. Guardiola appeared in a video urging support for UNRWA, stating that Israel has killed tens of thousands in Gaza and is preventing humanitarian aid. He emphasized that the children killed in Gaza are not "collateral damage" but human lives with families and dreams, warning against language that obscures pain and leads to a loss of humanity.
Former Israeli national team goalkeeper Dudu Aouate strongly condemned Guardiola, calling him a "materialist communist" who knows UNRWA is a "school for murderers and terrorists." Aouate accused Guardiola of prioritizing Qatari money over human lives and labeled him a "hypocrite."
Yosef Haddad also criticized Guardiola on X, formerly Twitter, accusing the manager of taking a clear anti-Israel stance and siding with Palestinian terrorism. Haddad stated that Guardiola is lying by ignoring Israel's fight against terrorists and the events of October 7th. He further alleged that Guardiola is financially contributing to an organization that is an integral part of Hamas, which he claims played an active role in the October 7th massacre and holding Israeli hostages.
Haddad asserted that Guardiola, once a highly regarded football coach, has "sold his soul to the devil" and is now a "useful idiot supporting terrorism," comparing his mentorship of Messi to his current mentorship of Greta, implying a negative shift.
Guardiola's remarks received widespread coverage internationally, with outlets in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Argentina, and the Middle East reporting on his call to support Palestinians. Many reports focused on his message without significant criticism, highlighting his plea not to forget Gaza and to acknowledge the humanity of those killed.
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