Hours before the match between the Basque soccer team and the Palestinian team in San Mamés, where more than 50,000 people were expected to attend, two demonstrations flooded the streets of central Bilbao. The first was Gure Esk and Guerre Bai, promoted by the Guernica Palestine platform, which has already been holding large-scale events since 2023. With the motto “Liberate the helicopters, stop the genocidioa,” thousands of people carrying the T-shirts of both teams, as well as Palestine and Ikrinyas flags, gathered to march to the stadium, a peaceful demonstration made up mostly of families with children, elderly people, and groups. “Palestine Askatu” and “Independence” are shouted.
At the end of the demonstration at the Sacred Heart, they quietly danced the oresque in memory of all those killed in Palestine, while the representatives of Guernica Palestine emphasized the need to definitively end the genocide in Gaza, solidarity with the Palestinians, recognition of Euskal Selekshoah’s official status and, finally, the demands of a free people. “We want a free Palestine and a free Euskal Heria. Palestine and Basque people have the right to live in peace and freedom and to decide their future freely and democratically. Today, in Bilbao, games of solidarity, games of fraternity, games of human rights and international law are being played. But above all, the game being played today is a game that marks the end of genocide. We are witnessing the commitment of the Basque community today and above all to playing this game. “Palestine will win,” they said after finishing the march.
An hour later, it was the turn of the Palestine El Qartasna Platform, which had mobilized thousands of people in Bilbao under the motto “Gola Palestine Elecistenzia! Euskal Herria Eta Palestine Askatu” (Stand up with the Palestinian resistance! Freedom for the Basque Country and Palestine). In this case, there was the presence of sports entertainment groups such as Inigo Cabacas Herri Harmaila, Bultzada, Indar Gorri, Indar Baskonia and Iraultza.
Smoke bombs and firecrackers rang out, chants of “destroy Israel” and “destroy Israel” were heard as thousands of people carried submachine guns and soccer players wearing Palestinian headscarves shot Prime Minister Isaac Netanyahu over the head. They took to the streets with banners depicting a soccer player playing a ball and shouted slogans such as “Israel Statue Telora (Israel, a terrorist state)” and “Gola Palestine Elecistenzia (Long).” Live the Palestinian Resistance) or “Palestine Askatu, Israel Suntzitu” (Liberate Palestine. Destroy Israel).
“This day is a day of celebration, but above all a day of political legitimacy in defense of Palestinian resistance, national struggle, and the need for the end of the Israeli state,” the organizers said, adding that they wanted to denounce “the false ceasefire signaled by the current low-intensity offensive against Gaza.”
This second concentration sparked controversy after Security Council member Bingen Zupilia suggested that the incident could occur due to its association with the Basque football club “Ultra”. On this issue, Palestine El-Qaltasna wanted to denounce the “criminalization” of its efforts. “To say a priori that an incident is going to happen, that it could be a violent chalejira, is to create the tension in which that very violence exists. From the Palestinian el-Qaltasuna and cheering stands, we have come here today to demand the defense of the Palestinian resistance and nothing more,” they said.
Regarding the fact that there were two calls for demonstrations, he said, “In the Basque Country, there are different forms of solidarity with Palestine, and different political strategies.” They pointed out that “it is only a political difference,” and later claimed that “San Mamés and the party and the countryside” were also “places of political demands.” “We have to wait to see how it proves itself internally,” they concluded before entering the field of Athletic Club de Bilbao.
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