Yamal, 18, held a large Palestinian flag while riding on an open-top bus during Barcelona’s victory parade through the city on Monday, as thousands of fans lined the streets to celebrate the club’s league triumph.
The moment quickly sparked political reaction, with Israel’s defence minister condemning the act and accusing the young footballer of “inciting hate” during the celebrations.
However, Sánchez came out in defence of the Barcelona winger, saying those who interpret the display as hate speech were misreading its meaning.
“Those who consider waving the flag of a State to be ‘inciting hatred’ have either lost their judgment or been blinded by their own ignominy,” Sánchez wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that Yamal was expressing sentiments shared widely across Spain. “Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine felt by millions of Spaniards. Another reason to be proud of him,” the Prime Minister said.
The incident highlights how the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to spill into global sport and public events, with athletes increasingly becoming focal points in broader political debates.
Barcelona’s celebrations, which marked another successful domestic season for the Catalan club, were otherwise dominated by fan festivities and civic gatherings across the city.
Yamal, one of Spain’s brightest young football talents, has risen rapidly through Barcelona’s ranks and is already considered a key figure in the club’s long-term future.