Spain international speaks out on Palestine protests during cycling tour

Spain interational and Celta Vigo forward Borja Iglesias has spoken out on the Israeli invasion of Palestine, and given his view on the protests that have surrounded the Vuelta a España cycling tour. The competition has been interrupted on several occasions due to the protests.

The heavy presence of protests in the Basque Country, and in several subsequent areas, has seen Spain’s premier cycling competition altered as a result. Numerous Palestine flags have been waved by protestors in the north of Spain, as the protests target team Israel-Premier Tech. The owner of the team has spoken out in favour of Israeli attacks in the Gaza strip, and ‘IPT’, have been praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team have since changed their kit to one which does not feature their name in hope of avoiding some of the flack, while some riders have said they fear for their safety, as per the BBC. Meanwhile several stages of the tour have been shortened in order to avoid disruption. The race is due to finish in Madrid this weekend, and more than 2,000 police officers are due to take to the streets to ‘avoid disruptions’.

Celta Vigo’s Borja Iglesias speaks out on ‘genocide’

Iglesias gave a press conference on Thursday after signing on a permanent deal with Celta this summer, and was asked about the issue.

“I’m surprised we give more importance to stopping a sporting event than to a genocide, for example. It’s something I don’t fully understand,” he told MD.

“It’s something very present in everyone’s lives. We’re aware of the situation we’re living in, and I think that sometimes it’s necessary to stop and demand what I consider obligatory: human rights, which I respect and which are often not fulfilled.”

Spain stance on Israel and Palestine

Spain was one of the first countries to recognise Palestine as a state last year, alongside Ireland and South Africa. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has demanded an end to Israeli military action in Gaza. Meanwhile Iglesias has frequently used his platform to speak up on causes cloe to his heart, painting his nails to support LGBTQIA+ rights, and also offering to renounce Spain duty in protest at the behaviour of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) towards the women’s team.

Recent Villarreal signing Manor Solomon, who advocated for Israeli bombing of Gaza on his social media, brought a torrent of abuse to the club social media accounts. During his presentation this week, Solomon told the press that he was ‘not here to talk about politics.‘