Football stars Paul Pogba and Amad Diallo display public support for Palestine

Manchester United duo Paul Pogba and Amad Diallo waved a Palestinian flag yesterday after playing the English football team’s final home game of the season.

The public display of support for Palestine comes amid Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which has led to the death of at least 219 Palestinians, including 63 children, and wounded more than 1,500 people since it began on 10 May.

Following the match, Pogba posted an image of himself holding the Palestine flag on Instagram alongside the caption: “Let’s keep our world safe and free from violence. Pray for Palestine.”

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A post shared by Paul Labile Pogba (@paulpogba)

The football players joined British actor Idris Elba, Roger Waters, Bella Hadid, John Cusack, and other global figures who have shared their views on the Israeli aggression on Palestinians in Gaza and Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah.

Other high-profile figures who have spoken out against Israeli attacks on the Palestinians, however, later deleted their posts. They include F1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton and American model Kendall Jenner.

On Sunday, American model Paris Hilton tweeted a Guardian article about Israel vowing not to stop Gaza attacks until there was “complete quiet” with the message: “This is so heartbreaking. This needs to stop! #SavePalestine #GazaUnderAttack #stopthegenocide.”

READ: Resistance to Israel’s occupation is an essential element in the recovery of the occupied mind

She followed it up by sharing a video of a ten-year-old Palestinian girl breaking down after air strikes destroyed her neighbour’s house, killing eight children.

“This hurts my heart. No one should have to live in fear. My heart goes out to the little girl and the other children around her,” Hilton tweeted to her 17 million followers.

Hours later, both tweets disappeared and were replaced by a neutral caption instead, which said: “Sending love and light around the world. Praying for peace to make the world a better place for all.”

Sending love and light around the world. Praying for peace to make the world a better place for all. 🙏

— ParisHilton (@ParisHilton) May 16, 2021