Selçuk Buğra Gökalp
29 May 2024•Update: 30 May 2024
ANKARA
Athletes, prominent figures and sports fans are showing support for Palestine and disdain for Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Manchester United legend and former French footballer Eric Cantona questioned the world's attitude toward Israel on Tuesday.
"Is there anyone left to defend these criminals? Is there anyone left who would not condemn the criminals? Are there still states that still arm these criminals? Is there anyone left who would not call this a genocide? Is there anyone left who would not shed a tear in the face of such horror?" Cantona, 58, wrote on Instagram.
Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton demanded Israel stop its onslaught after a Rafah airstrike killed at least 45 civilians in a tent camp last weekend.
"Enough is enough. We cannot continue to watch this tragedy unfold and not speak up. The trauma and terror so many, but particularly innocent children, are experiencing is horrifying. This must stop - for the children, for their families, and for their lives," the 39-year-old Mercedes driver from the UK expressed his feelings Tuesday on Instagram.
Moroccan Hakim Ziyech and Turkish Kerem Akturkoglu, who both play for the Turkish football club, Galatasaray, showed support for Palestine during the 24th championship celebrations of the club on Monday.
Ziyech unfurled a Palestinian flag during the celebrations, while Akturkoglu wrapped a Palestinian keffiyeh around his wrist.
Akturkoglu published on his Instagram account on May 27, a picture of a hand engulfed in flames with the word “RAFAH” written across the image with the hashtag, "RafahOnFire."
Fans of the Scottish football club, Celtic, displayed support with Palestine flags along with a figure of a Palestinian child and a banner that read: "Our revenge will be the laughter of our children," during the Scottish Cup final against the Rangers on May 25.
'All Eyes on Rafah' slogan goes viral among footballers
The 'All Eyes on Rafah' slogan has gone viral on social media after an Israeli airstrike in the southern city of Gaza killed dozens of people, including children.
As the attack has sparked international outrage, many famous football figures have used the 'All Eyes on Rafah' AI image on Instagram to call attention to the situation in Rafah.
Barcelona's Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo, Arsenal's French defender William Saliba, Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele, AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram, former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng, and women footballers such as Jen Beattie from Scotland, England's Leah Williamson and Lucy Bronze, Swiss forward Alisha Lehmann, as well as Spain's World Cup winning midfielder Aitana Bonmati showed their support to Palestine, sharing the 'All Eyes on Rafah' image on Instagram.
Italy's Gianluca Scamacca, who helped Atalanta win their first-ever UEFA Europa League title on May 22, former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, and German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong also called people to pay attention to the tragedy in Gaza.
In addition, David Beckham, a former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, called for "an immediate ceasefire,” with the ex-England captain sharing a UNICEF executive's message on Instagram, who said Israel must stop killing children in the Rafah tent camp.
Israel's nearly eight-month war on Gaza has led to more than 36,100 deaths in the war-torn coastal enclave and has injured over 81,100.
