Football fans in Bilbao march in support as Palestine plays first European match

Thousands marched in support of Palestine in the Spanish city of Bilbao as Palestinian footballers played their first European match against the Basque Country team.

The Basque Country team beat the Palestine team 3-0 in the friendly match, which was marked by shows of solidarity between both teams.

Palestinians and the Basque have long shared political sympathies, with both involved in nationalist struggles for independence.

The two teams celebrated side by side, arms around each other, on the San Mames pitch in front of more than 50,000 spectators.

"It's difficult to coach when your mother lives in a makeshift tent. I come from Gaza," Palestinian coach Ehab Abu Jazar told AFP.

"We lost nearly 200 people in my family. My house was destroyed - but representing Palestine is the greatest honour there is."

The match raised funds for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is among the organisations supporting Palestinians in the devastated enclave, where more than 71,000 people have been killed and millions displaced.

Supporters also unveiled images of Suleiman al-Obeid, the former captain of Palestine’s national team, who was killed by Israel in Gaza.

According to the Palestine Football Association, 1,100 Palestinian athletes, employees, coaches and referees have been killed since the beginning of the war.

Prior to the match, thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets in support of Gaza, highlighting historic ties of solidarity between Basque and Palestinian nationalism.

The Palestinian team is set to play against the Catalan team next week, another region of Spain that has historically sought independence from the country.

The Spanish government has been one of the most overtly critical governments in Europe with regard to Israel since the beginning of the war in October 2023.

In May 2024, Spain - along with Ireland and Norway -recognised Palestine as a state, while Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has publicly described Israel's assault on Gaza as a genocide.