A soccer match in Spain’s La Liga between Club Atlético Osasuna and Getafe Club de Fútbol on Friday was disrupted by the former’s home fans who hurled tennis balls onto the pitch at the 10th minute to protest Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
In addition, two large banners with the writing “Israel Suntsitu” (“Destroy Israel” in Spanish) were unfurled by Osasuna fans during the game in Pamplona.
Hoy, la afición antifascista de Osasuna ha logrado paralizar el encuentro de la Liga tirando pelotas de tenis como protesta en solidaridad con el pueblo de Palestina. Grandes. pic.twitter.com/JOXmzlfEpW
— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) October 3, 2025
In recent years, throwing tennis balls onto soccer fields has become a popular form of political protest in Europe.
The game resumed after a few minutes’ break.
The Basque-region fans of Osasuna waved PLO flags throughout the match and could be heard chanting anti-Israel slogans, calling for the Jewish state to be banned from European competitions, according to outlet Ynet News.
Spain has come under the spotlight in recent months for escalating its rhetoric and actions against Israel. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described Israel as a “genocidal state,” as his government imposed personal sanctions on Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir in September.
After protesters in Madrid forcefully compelled the early cessation of the Vuelta a España cycling race due to the participation of an Israeli team, Sánchez delivered a speech in which he encouraged more anti-Israel demonstrations of the same nature.
Pro-Palestinian protests have sprung more frequently over the last few weeks in the Basque region, known for its left-wing leanings, culminating in the withdrawal from a tournament of seven Israeli chess players after the local Sestao Chess Club refused to guarantee their safety.
On Sept. 8, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz and Minister of Youth and Children Sira Rego were banned from entering the Jewish state, citing violent and antisemitic statements they made following the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
