Photo of Barcelona President with Israeli Representatives Predates Gaza War
The Claim
FC Barcelona stands with Jewish terrorists and murder of civilians.
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Emerging story
Amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, social media users widely shared a photo purporting to feature the president of FC Barcelona, alongside representatives from the Israeli Embassy in Spain.
The photo sparked criticism, with many users expressing outrage against the Spanish club. An X user shared the photo with the caption, "FC Barcelona stands with Jewish terrorists and murder of civilians."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating photo and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the photo making the rounds to be older than claimed.
Outdated Photo of Barcelona President with Israel Embassy Representatives
Contrary to the claim circulating on social media, the photo is not recent. Misbar's investigative team traced the original image back to February 16, 2023, following FC Barcelona's announcement to sever ties with Israel.
The original photo was posted by i24 News on X that same day, with the caption, “Barcelona football club invites Israeli embassy staff in Spain to match against Manchester United, in show of solidarity after Barcelona mayor's decision to cut ties with Tel Aviv over 'Israeli apartheid'”
Israel National News also reported the meeting between the Spanish team and the Israeli Embassy representatives in Spain. The president of FC Barcelona hosted Israeli personnel from the Embassy and presented them with team jerseys.
FC Barcelona President Hosts Israeli Representatives
According to reports, Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, expressed his support for Israel following the club's announcement to cut ties with the country and end its twin city agreement with Tel Aviv.
Laporta invited representatives from the Israeli Embassy in Spain to attend Barcelona's match against Manchester United and presented them with team jerseys.
During a pre-match ceremony, Laporta highlighted the club’s long-standing commitment to fostering strong relations with Israel and its people. In return, Israeli diplomats presented Laporta with an Israeli flag.
This was not the first time FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta met with Israeli officials. In July 2021, he met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to Israel for the opening of the "Barça The Exhibition" exposition. Laporta was also in the country to attend the "Legends Clásico" match between Barça and Real Madrid, which took place on July 20 at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.
Barcelona Mayor Cuts Ties with Israel
Barcelona temporarily severed ties with Israel in response to its policies towards Palestine. The Catalan capital had been twinned with Tel Aviv and Gaza for 25 years, but this relationship has been put on hold on February 9, 2023.
In a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ada Colau, Barcelona's left-wing mayor, announced the suspension of relations until Israel ceases its “systematic violation of the people of Palestine’s human rights.” Colau emphasized that the boycott does not apply to Israelis or Palestinians who are actively working towards peace in the Middle East.
Spain Recognized a Palestinian State Amid Aggressive War
Spain, Ireland, and Norway have officially recognized the State of Palestine, aiming to redirect attention towards finding a political solution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In response, Israel has withdrawn its ambassadors from these countries and formally reprimanded their envoys in Tel Aviv.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, since October 7, Israel's war on Gaza claimed the lives of at least 41,272 people and left 95,551 others wounded.
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