Moroccan Soccer Star Sparks Controversy with Anti-Israel Social Media Post

Israelis and some media in their country are angry with Abdessamad Ezzalzouli. The origin of this anger is a publication by the Moroccan player. On his Instagram account, Abde Ezzalzouli posted a story: a photo showing an Israeli policeman brutally assaulting an unarmed Palestinian citizen who was accompanied by his child in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He accompanied his photo with the caption: "F**k Israel".

According to Palestinian media, FC Barcelona put pressure on its winger to delete the story. Information denied by an official of the Catalan club to the Spanish media CCMA. He denied any involvement of the team, assuring that Abde Ezzalzouli deleted his story "of his own free will". But the deletion of the story was late. It was quickly shared on other social networks and provoked many comments. For Israel Hayom, the player’s position "is clear and unequivocal against Israel". The Hebrew newspaper recalled that "this is not the first time" that the Moroccan international has displayed solidarity with Palestine and hostility towards Israel.

The same media also shared reactions from many Israelis who attacked Abdessamad Ezzalzouli. Some of them even threatened him. An Internet user thus threatened to "break the legs" of the 20-year-old player "so that he can no longer play".