Last Saturday, a large-scale event in support of Palestinian refugees took place at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Before the match between the local Athletic club and the team from Mallorca, the stands came together in a unified gesture, expressing solidarity with the victims of the Middle East conflict. This event became a prominent display of social engagement by the Basque football community.
Taking to the field were not only football players, but also invited guests. Among them were former captain of the Palestine national football team Hani Taljie, as well as a group of eleven Palestinian refugees. They were joined by representatives from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). All of them served as symbols of support for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
During the ceremony, electronic scoreboards displayed calls to end the violence and messages of solidarity. Fans greeted the participants with enthusiastic applause, while slogans posted around the field underscored the club’s and supporters’ stance.
The Athletic Foundation and the regional UNRWA office in the Basque Country are implementing a joint initiative aimed at helping nearly eight thousand Palestinian children living in refugee camps in Syria. As part of this project, physical education classes will be organized in 16 schools managed by UNRWA, providing children in difficult circumstances with access to sports education.
On the same day, the upcoming friendly match between the Basque Country and Palestine national teams was presented at the Museum of Peace in Gernika. The match will take place at San Mamés on November 15. This event also aims to draw attention to the issue of refugees and to strengthen ties between football communities from different countries.
The demonstration in Bilbao was part of a broader wave of civic initiatives taking place in various cities across Europe. On that day, numerous rallies were held throughout the continent, with participants calling for an end to violence and expressing support for the people of Palestine. Athletic Club once again reaffirmed its reputation as an organization actively engaged in addressing social issues and supporting humanitarian projects.
