Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has intensified his criticism of Israel, asserting that the world has "allowed a people to be wiped out". His remarks, made in an interview with RAC1 ahead of a friendly match in Barcelona between the Catalonia national team and Palestine, have sparked widespread reaction.
Guardiola's comments come amidst ongoing calls for UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel from international competitions. While UEFA was reportedly considering a ban, the process was put on hold following a peace proposal.
Speaking about the situation, Guardiola stated, "The world has abandoned Palestine. We have done absolutely nothing". He further emphasized the global indifference, saying, "It is not their fault that they were born there. We have all allowed an entire people to be destroyed. The damage has been done and is irreparable".
Guardiola also expressed his dismay at the loss of life in Gaza. "I cannot imagine any person in this world who could defend the massacres in Gaza. Our children could be there and be killed simply because they were born," he said. He also voiced his lack of faith in world leaders, stating, "They will do anything just to stay in power".
The Catalonia-Palestine friendly match, which Guardiola urged fans to attend, aimed to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. "These days, everyone knows everything, and with this match, the Palestinians will see that there is a part of the world that cares about them," Guardiola said. Proceeds from the match will fund humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, where an estimated 70,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces, according to Gaza's health ministry.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine began in October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. A United Nations commission later declared the attack on Gaza a genocide.
Guardiola has previously spoken out about the suffering of children in Gaza, stating that the images of those killed in the conflict are "painful" and have left him "deeply troubled". In June 2025, he urged the world to speak up against injustice. "It's so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all my body," Guardiola said.
Following his earlier comments, Guardiola faced criticism from Israeli officials and media, who accused him of presenting a one-sided narrative. He responded by emphasizing that his stance is rooted in humanity, not ideology.
