Bilbao rally backs Palestine ahead of Basque-Palestine match

• Thousands in Bilbao march in solidarity, calling attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
• Friendly match between Basque and Palestinian teams viewed as a symbolic show of support.

Thousands marched through the streets of Bilbao on Saturday in a large solidarity rally expressing broad public support for the Palestinian cause in Spain’s Basque Country.

The demonstration came just hours before a friendly match between the Basque national team and the Palestinian national team at San Mamés Stadium.

Thousands call for end to Gaza suffering

The march, organized by Basque human rights groups, drew thousands of participants carrying signs calling for an immediate end to what they described as the suffering in Gaza. Demonstrators highlighted long-standing ties of solidarity between Basque and Palestinian communities and urged the international community to take urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis.

Spain has seen sustained public mobilization over the situation in Gaza, where widespread destruction and humanitarian collapse followed operations carried out by the 'Israeli' army since Oct. 7, 2023.

Read more: Palestinian football team arrives in Bilbao for historic solidarity match

Friendly match carries symbolic weight

Against this backdrop, the friendly match between the Basque team and the Palestinian national team carries symbolic value beyond sports. Supporters say the event provides a platform to amplify Palestinian voices from the heart of Europe, hoping the stands at San Mamés will reflect strong messages of solidarity.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

Humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. International appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice have not halted the military operations, which have caused significant devastation across the territory.

According to figures from local authorities and humanitarian organizations, the toll has reached nearly 239,000 killed and injured, most of them children and women. More than 11,000 people remain missing under the rubble, while hundreds of thousands have been forcibly displaced from their homes.