Video: Guardiola slams ‘genocide’ in Palestine, decries global indifference to civilian slaughter

Abdullateef Fowewe

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has unleashed a passionate tirade against what he called a “genocide in Palestine” during a press conference, tying it to horrors in Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond while urging empathy across political lines.

“We have the info in front of our eyes, watching more clearly than ever now. The genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happens with Russia, what happens all around the world in Sudan and everywhere.

“When they completely kill thousands of innocent people, it hurts me. It’s no more complicated than that,” Guardiola said, his voice thick with emotion.

The Catalan coach, known for his activism, rejected indifference amid daily images of suffering.

“I cannot imagine nobody—anyone—cannot feel it when we see the images every single day. The fathers, mothers, kids, kids being killed, when their lives are being destroyed,” he added. “And absolutely, if people cannot feel a little bit of empathy, I’m sorry, I can not feel it,” he added.

Guardiola positioned his stance as human, not partisan stressing, “What happens in another country hurts. Not about position. But when you have an idea and use it to defend killing thousands and thousands of innocent people, I’m sorry, I must stand up. Always, I will be there.”

This marks a continuation of his advocacy, including a 2023 push for Barcelona protests over the Israel-Hamas war—rare among top football figures given UEFA’s apolitical guidelines.