Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has publicly declared support for the people of Palestine, delivering an emotional speech at a charity concert held in Barcelona on Thursday night.
Guardiola spoke at the Act x Palestine concert at the Palau Sant Jordi, barely 24 hours after his side defeated Galatasaray 2–0 in the UEFA Champions League. The event marked the climax of a mobilisation campaign organised by Palestinian human rights groups alongside several European partners.
Dressed in a black-and-white keffiyeh, a widely recognised symbol of Palestinian identity, the Spanish coach addressed the audience at the start of the concert, reflecting on images of children affected by the ongoing conflict.
He lamented what he described as global silence and abandonment, saying children trapped in war zones were left to suffer without meaningful intervention from the international community.
Guardiola also criticised political leaders, accusing those in authority of lacking courage while ordinary people paid the price of war. He said powerful figures were insulated from the consequences of violence, while innocent lives were lost on the ground.
Calling on the audience to act, the Manchester City boss urged people not to look away or remain silent, stressing that participation and solidarity were vital. He said the message was not only about Palestine but about standing with the oppressed everywhere and defending humanity.
His remarks were met with a standing ovation from the crowd.
Guardiola’s appearance came on the same day reports emerged that the Israeli military had, for the first time, acknowledged that over 70,000 Palestinians had been killed since the conflict began.
The football manager is no stranger to public activism. In 2018, he was fined £20,000 by the English Football Association for wearing a yellow ribbon in support of jailed Catalan independence leaders. More recently, in June 2025, he described the Gaza war as something that “hurts my whole body” while delivering a speech at the University of Manchester, where he received an honorary doctorate.
Reports from Catalan media said the concert featured about 30 performers from different musical backgrounds. Popular artists such as Rosalía, Bad Gyal and Amaia thrilled the audience, alongside acts including Morad, Oques Grasses, Mushka, Lluís Llach and Fermín Muguruza.
International performers, including Mali’s Tinariwen and French singer Zaho de Sagazan, also took part, while Palestinian artists Zeyne and Lina Makoul featured prominently in the programme.
The concert brought together music and activism, using art to amplify calls for justice and solidarity with Palestinians.
