Fans of Spanish club Alaves display red cards to Israel in LaLiga match

By Merve Berker

Thousands of supporters of the Spanish football club Deportivo Alaves staged a protest against Israel during a LaLiga match at Mendizorroza Stadium on Sunday, holding red cards and unfurling a large Palestinian flag in a choreographed demonstration.

The protest, carried out from the stands, was a show of solidarity with Palestine, as fans symbolically “showed the red card to Israel.”

The demonstration saw supporters raising their red cards in unison while the Palestinian flag was prominently displayed.

The act of protest comes amid growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, with increasing calls for accountability and an end to military operations.

A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, temporarily halting the Israeli war that has caused widespread destruction and left the Palestinian enclave in ruins.

Despite the ceasefire, the Gaza local authorities reported almost daily ceasefire violations by the Israeli army.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.