Benzema, Cantona, Atal... These footballers who reacted to the conflict between Israel and Hamas

On October 12, after Algeria's victory against Cape Verde in a friendly match (5-1), Youcef Atal published a photo of himself on Instagram wearing a scarf on which was written “Palestine will be free” (the Palestine will be free). Above all, the Algerian right-back, who has played at OGC Nice since 2018, shared an anti-Semitic publication immediately.

The post in question was a video by a Palestinian preacher, Mahmoud al-Hasanat, in which he calls on God to send “a dark day on the Jews,” according to translations reported by Nice-Matin. Atal quickly apologized, swearing to believe in an “ideal of peace”, assuring to condemn “all forms of violence [...] and hatred”.

The international player, aged 27, is the subject of a preliminary investigation opened by the Nice prosecutor for “apology of terrorism”. OGC Nice announced it was “suspending until further notice”.

Former French football star Éric Cantona is a long-time supporter of Palestine. On Tuesday October 17, 2023, the ex-Manchester United striker published a long message on Instagram. “Defending Palestinian human rights does not mean being pro-Hamas. “Saying 'freedom for Palestine' does not mean being anti-Semitic or 'wanting all Jews to disappear',” he says, among other things.

Cantona, 57, denounces the fact that “2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom are children,” are locked up in what he describes as “the largest open-air prison in the world.” The former French international would like an end to “apartheid imposed by the Israeli government”. Vocal on various social issues, Cantona has distanced himself from the world of football for many years, having retired in 1997.

“All our prayers for the inhabitants of Gaza who are once again victims of these unjust bombings which spare no women or children,” Karim Benzema said via social media, Sunday, October 15, 2023. His message followed the response bloodshed by Israel, following the deadly attack carried out by Hamas. “You’re a big son of a bitch,” retired goalkeeper and former Israeli international David Aouate violently responded.

SEE ALSO – The indelible mark left by Benzema at Real Madrid (2009-2023)

In France, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, accused Benzema, 35, of being in “link” with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization recognized as terrorist in several countries, including Saudi Arabia where Benzema continues his career since this summer. The French striker, elected Ballon d’Or in 2022, plays for the Al-Ittihad club.

In Germany, the publication of a message from Noussair Mazraoui, Moroccan defender of Bayern Munich on .

Bayern Munich, in a statement, quickly reacted: “The player is currently in Africa with the Moroccan national team. After his return, a detailed personal conversation with the club management in Munich is planned.” The German club with 33 national championship titles said it was “concerned about the fate of our friends in Israel” and hoped for “peaceful coexistence for all the people of the Middle East”.

Dutch international Anwar El Ghazi, 28, was suspended by his club Mainz for sharing a message on Instagram on Sunday October 15, 2023. The message in question, published by a pro-Palestine account, claimed that he it was “neither a conflict nor a war” but “a genocide and mass destruction”. “When one side cuts off access to water, food and electricity to the other, when one side uses nuclear weapons, it is not war,” we could read.

El Ghazi, a winger who played for Lille between 2017 and 2019, was suspended for having “taken an unacceptable position for the club on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East”, explained the German club Mainz. “Before making this decision, the club and the player discussed in depth,” it is specified. Mainz respects the fact that there are different views on this complex, decades-long conflict in the Middle East. However, the club distances itself from the publication in question, as it does not align with the club's values.