Dear Celtic Board members,
We are writing to you from Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC) to express our collective support for the fans of Celtic FC who have shown brave, principled and relentless solidarity with the people and cause of Palestine.
We are aware of ongoing displeasure within the Celtic board over the displaying of Palestinian flags, ‘Show Israel the Red Card’ banners, and other creative messaging, notably at the ‘North Curve’ section of the ground.
Rather than condemning and attempting to ban such displays, the club should be viewing them as great statements of humanity.
In proudly holding Palestinian flags and banners, these laudable Celtic fans are making a recurring statement on behalf of oppressed peoples. In doing so, they are invoking their club’s own founding history, experience and cause. (1)
They are standing up for the occupied. They are backing the besieged. They are advocating for the ethnically cleansed, displaced and starved. They are protesting an actual genocide.
As the famous Celtic song itself proclaims, knowledge of those originating principles is what should fill all of our hearts with pride over what Celtic, at its roots, truly stands for.
These fans are on the right side of history not just in a heartfelt sense, but in a legal one. As two key recent rulings by the International Court of Justice confirm: firstly, Israel’s attack on Gaza is a “plausible” case of genocide (2); secondly, Israel’s entire presence across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) is “unlawful”. (3)
Both rulings come with the instruction that no state or organisation should do anything that enables Israel’s genocidal actions or violates Palestinian rights within the OPT.
As a major public and cultural body, Celtic have a vital responsibility to uphold such calls and be a leading example to other clubs. The admirable expressions of support by Celtic fans has now seen many more international clubs flying the Palestinian flag and adopting the Red Card message.
Celtic aren’t just a global brand. They are for so many Palestinians and millions more around the world now a beacon for Palestinian rights and justice. The strong association of the Celtic fan base with the Palestinian cause should be duly recognised, welcomed and promoted by the board.
The board should also be reminded that namesake Palestinian club Lajee Celtic was born out of the very solidarity shown by these same Celtic fans in resisting censure from UEFA and opposition within the club over the presence of Palestinian flags. Their responsive actions in raising substantive funds for Aida refugee camp is now a legendary story of fan activism.
That respect must be shown back by the club to Celtic supporters, both at home and in suffering other places. And with Gaza and the West Bank under existential attack, there’s no more important time to be reciprocating that support.
It is also a moral disgrace that Israeli clubs and Israel’s ‘national’ side are still not excluded by UEFA and FIFA from all competitions. We see the hypocrisy of removing Russian teams over the war in Ukraine while turning a blind eye to Israel’s mass crimes, including the wilful murder, brutal detention and prohibitive movement of so many Palestinian footballers.
Through the dark decades of apartheid South Africa, it was disruptive sports boycotts and visual actions like this that helped bring down its brutal regime. Following calls from Amnesty and other human rights bodies, we must trust in the same good motivations of Celtic fans in helping to expose Israel’s apartheid system and halt its genocide. (4)
The backlash and potential sanctions faced by the Green Brigade and other Celtic fans for supporting a people subjected to genocide is truly deplorable.
GGEC’s own Red Card team have now overseen many successful boycott actions against Israel’s sporting and cultural hasbara, and will continue to stand proudly with these fans in their displays of moral solidarity.
We pledge, in showing such resolve for Palestine, that they will never walk alone.
As the main body of pro-Palestinian organisations here in Scotland, GGEC would be pleased to meet and discuss these matters with members of the Celtic board.
Yours sincerely,
For GGEC
(1) https://www.mintpressnews.com/love-from-glasgow-to-gaza-why-celtic-fc-fans-support-palestine/289198/
(4) https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/