War on the Terraces: Israel-Palestine in International Ultras Culture
![War on the Terraces: Israel-Palestine in International Ultras Culture](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c24061_f6d1bd84d69946f898cb568211c6d22c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_449,h_254,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Image-empty-state.jpg)
9 February 2025
Ethan Rooney
Introduction
Social media has been filled in the last year with some of the most gruesome and shocking footage coming out of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. As well as spurring many into activist action, this has reignited the visibility of the Israel-Palestine conflict in the realm of organised fanatical football supporter (ultras) culture. Its most recent and visible manifestation was the street violence surrounding the football fixture between Israeli side, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Dutch team, Ajax Amsterdam in early November. The violence associated with the Maccabi-Ajax game is far from the first time the Israel-Palestine conflict has spilled into the realm of football supporter groups, however.
Often politically charged and sometimes steeped in extremist culture, ultras have been involved in international conflict and politics for as long as they have existed. In Egypt and Tunisia, ultras were instrumental in revolutions that toppled authoritarian governments during the Arab Spring, and in Turkey, ultras from the three largest Istanbul clubs were the main physical actors in a failed uprising in 2014. Meanwhile, it was ultras groups from across Ukraine who formed some of the first civil defence battalions during the Maidan Uprising the same year.
From across the Middle East and North Africa, to Europe and Latin America, football clubs, fans and ultras have exercised political influence, and many have weighed in on the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly since the most recent Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7th, 2023. In many cases, from Paris, Glasgow and Hamburg to Morocco and Chile, ultras have engaged in activism, protest, fundraising, public demonstration, and occasionally violence for their cause, generating media and political attention.
This analysis will first examine the Israel-Palestine-related violence surrounding the Maccabi-Ajax fixture in Amsterdam, before exploring the role and importance of the conflict in global ultras culture. Particular attention is paid to Israeli ultras; the Chilean Club Deportivo Palestino; Hamburg side, FC St. Pauli; and freedom of expression in North African stadiums.
Israeli Ultras in Amsterdam
The day before the Maccabi-Ajax Europa League game was scheduled to take place on November 7th, the Maccabi Tel Aviv ultra group, Maccabi Fanatics, reportedly began causing disturbances in central Amsterdam. Incidents included verbal and physical aggression towards Arab taxi drivers and passers-by, as well as the removal of Palestinian flags, and racist chants glorifying Israeli forces and denigrating Arabs. Some chants reportedly included the lyrics: “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no more children,” which circulated widely on social media and exacerbated existing tensions surrounding the match.
The Maccabi Fanatics have a history of far-right and anti-Arab sentiment, and a violent reputation for attacking opposition fans, as well as targeting Maccabi’s own Arab-Israeli players. Maharan Radi, an Arab-Israeli who played for Maccabi from 2012–2015, faced harassment, threats, and chants such as “No Arabs at Maccabi” when playing.(1) Since Radi left the club, no other Arab player has joined, highlighting how normalised racism has become within Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fan culture and the influence of ultras’ politics on clubs and wider society as a whole.(2)
The group ‘Week 4 Palestine’ had earlier protested Maccabi Tel Aviv’s presence in Amsterdam, claiming it was morally unacceptable given the UN has said there is “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israel is committing genocide as part of the ongoing conflict with Palestinians in Gaza.(3) They argued that Israel should be excluded from international competitions akin to Russia’s ban from international events following its invasion of Ukraine. Huge numbers of police were thus mobilised around Amsterdam on the day of the match.
In response to calls for protest on social media, Ajax’s main ultras group, the F-Side, released an online statement on November 4th saying that they would not tolerate any political demonstrations at or around their club’s stadium, where the match was to be held. While the F-Side generally claims to be apolitical, their stance is influenced by Ajax’s historical connection to Amsterdam’s significant Jewish community. The F-Side also has associations with other pro-Israeli fan groups in Europe, such as the Jude Gang of KS Cracovia. This added a distinct level of complexity to the whole situation. It is also worth noting that Amsterdam today has a large Arab community and many Palestinian flags are brought to Ajax games, however not by ultras groups.
The match itself went ahead peacefully with Ajax beating Maccabi 5-0, but events escalated afterwards, fuelled by the racist actions of the Maccabi Fanatics the previous day. Maccabi supporters were targeted with violent attacks, mostly by local Arabs living in Amsterdam, leaving multiple Maccabi fans hospitalised.
After an Israeli official issued a statement saying, “The State of Israel takes seriously the safety of its citizens, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure their protection,” planes from Israel's national airline were dispatched to help safely evacuate Israeli Maccabi supporters. Local officials in Amsterdam compared the violence to an anti-Semitic pogrom, while other commentators described it as an expected local response to the racist and violent behaviour of Maccabi fans the day earlier. The Israeli government later called for greater security for Israelis abroad and stronger international action against anti-Semitism.(4)
Israeli Ultras at Home
There are an array of political opinions that divide football ultras groups in Israel. Groups such as La Familia, the ultras faction of Beitar Jerusalem, are Israeli far-right nationalists who often chant anti-Arab songs and glorify Israel's military operations in Gaza. Most view the conflict as existential for Israel and dismiss any critique as unpatriotic. In contrast, ultras from Hapoel Tel Aviv, particularly the Ultras Hapoel 99 (UH99), are traditionally left-wing, and often oppose the far-right policies of Israel’s government. Although not explicitly pro-Palestinian, their general left-leaning stance sometimes puts them at odds with the more nationalist elements within Israeli society. Their banners and songs frequently feature anti-fascist, anti-racist, and social justice messages, but even then, they are cautious in expressing direct support for Palestinians, possibly because of a fear of backlash from wider Israeli society.(5)
![A Hapoel fan waving the flag of Anti-Fascist Action (AFA), a militant anti-racist organisation founded in the UK in 1985 (distinct from Antifa, a movement inspired by the AFA active in the US). Image credit: Hapoel Ultras.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c24061_a1eaad0bec964b7f9d08f8f9e152dd02~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_62,h_83,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/c24061_a1eaad0bec964b7f9d08f8f9e152dd02~mv2.png)
This divide among ultras demonstrates the level of polarisation within Israel, and is likely representative of a wider societal division, where one camp sees the violence as a defence of national sovereignty, and the other, while critical of the more extreme aspects of Israel's actions in Gaza, often remains hesitant to outright criticise the military. Israeli football ultras are thus active participants in the political discourse surrounding the conflict, be that through supporting the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) or calling for reform.
Club Deportivo Palestino
Palestinians themselves have a long footballing history owing to cultural exchange with European Jewish settlers in the region, and with the British during Mandate rule. This relationship extends beyond Palestine, and is embodied in Club Deportivo Palestino, a Chilean football club founded in 1920 by Palestinian immigrants that predates both the conflict with and formation of the modern state of Israel. Palestino’s primary supporters come from Chile’s 500,000-strong Palestinian community—the largest outside the Middle East. The club has become a cultural symbol in the country, connecting diaspora Palestinians with their heritage.
Palestino plays in Chile’s top division and has gained attention for its solidarity with Palestinian causes. Their jerseys sometimes feature imagery related to Palestine, including a map of its historical borders—which generated controversy over perceived revanchism—while Palestino players have worn keffiyehs—a Palestinian national symbol—and supporters regularly bring Palestinian flags to games.(6) During one evocative protest in 2023, Palestino players walked out without their usual children mascots beside them, instead holding their hands out as if to invisible children, in reference to the most recent conflict’s huge child death toll, which currently numbers around 12,000.(7)
![Palestino players entering the pitch with their jerseys showing a map of the borders of historical Palestine. Image credit: Agence France-Presse/Getty Images.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c24061_b4f76449ee3b49848e4df039cdd5317b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_62,h_42,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/c24061_b4f76449ee3b49848e4df039cdd5317b~mv2.png)
Elsewhere in Latin America, supporters of many non-traditionally Palestinian clubs, including Flamengo, Santos, and São Paulo, in Brazil have begun bringing Palestinian flags to matches, and attending pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside of the stadium, wearing the colours of their clubs.
‘From Glasgow to Gaza’
The effects of the recent Israel-Hamas war on international ultras culture have been most pronounced in Europe. Ultras from clubs across the region, including Rayo Vallecano (Spain), Pisa SC (Italy), and Clapton FC (England) organised massive protest actions and banners in their stadiums to mark one year of the conflict on October 7th.(8) These groups have also been involved in raising money for aid organisations in Gaza via sales of merchandise including Palestine jerseys.(9) In Dublin, during the Irish Cup Final in November, Derry City ultras held up a large “Free Palestine” banner.
![Derry City ultras hold up a 'Free Palestine' banner during the Irish Cup Final. Image credit: Reddit](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c24061_82043d7f8b654a51b6f6c78392d430f4~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_62,h_83,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/c24061_82043d7f8b654a51b6f6c78392d430f4~mv2.png)
St. (Sankt) Pauli, an iconic Hamburg football club whose fans represent a plethora of left-wing causes, is currently grappling with deep divisions within its fan scene over its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Historically famous for its anti-fascist, anti-racist, and pro-refugee ideals, the club has recently drawn criticism for its perceived pro-Israel stance since October 7th, 2023 when the conflict escalated into its current form.
This ideological rift can partly be explained with reference to the relationship between some St. Pauli ultras and Germany’s Antideutsch (anti-German) movement that emerged in the wake of the Second World War in response to the crimes of the Nazis. The core Antideutsch idea was that to be left-wing or progressive, you needed to be against everything Germany had stood for and done. Many Antideutsch left-wingers and progressives thus maintain a unique loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state.(10)
After a St. Pauli-issued statement condemning Hamas’ actions and criticising its Islamic fundamentalism and poor human rights record failed to mention Israel’s brutal response in Gaza, numerous St Pauli international fan clubs and friends of its ultras expressed outrage at its perceived betrayal of its progressive values, and dissolved or severed their ties in protest.(11) In Bilbao, for example, supporters declared they no longer felt comfortable with St. Pauli’s increasingly rigid ideological framework, while fan groups in Catalonia, Greece, and Turkey also severed ties.
One of the most prominent examples of this growing divide was the rift between St. Pauli ultras and their long-time allies at Glasgow Celtic, a Scottish club with deep-rooted anti-imperialist, pro-Palestinian beliefs stemming from their origins as a club formed by Irish refugees escaping British colonialism in Ireland.(10) Celtic’s Green Brigade ultras have been involved in many on-the-ground initiatives to help Palestinians in Gaza, including raising money for aid, and financing the Lajee Celtic football club in Aida refugee camp, Bethlehem.(12)
The tension came to a head in October 2023, when St. Pauli ultras displayed a banner at their home ground reading: “From Glasgow to Gaza – Fight Anti-Semitism. Free Palestine from Hamas.” Angered at St. Pauli fans’ relative silence on the plight of Gazan Palestinians, Celtic fans unveiled their own banner in response during a match soon after, bluntly reading: “Fuck St. Pauli. Free Hamburg from Hipsters.” This public exchange was what formally ended one of the strongest international club friendships in Europe. A few weeks later, fans of MFC 1871, a lower-division Parisian side with former links to St. Pauli ultras, held up a banner declaring “Sankt Pauli – Disneyland of Anti-Fascism”.
![St. Pauli and Celtic ultras display banners targeting one another. Image credit: Dialektic Football](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c24061_1d5cc757d26046a68f786df8f6585684~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_118,h_113,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/c24061_1d5cc757d26046a68f786df8f6585684~mv2.png)
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticised Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans after ultras unfurled an enormous “Free Palestine” banner featuring the Al-Aqsa Mosque and a historical map of Palestine’s borders, alongside the slogan “War on the pitch but peace in the world”, during a UEFA Champions League game against Atlético Madrid on November 6th, 2024, calling it “unacceptable”.(13)(14)
The France-Israel Nations League match on November 14th too received widespread attention, becoming a focal point for criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. Due to a boycott by French supporters’ groups, only 20,000 spectators attended the 80,000-seat stadium—the lowest turnout ever for a French international game in Paris. Meanwhile, outside the stadium, pro-Palestinian protests took place despite a heavy police presence.
![Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ultras unfurl an enormous 'Free Palestine' banner during a match with Atlético Madrid in November 2024. Image credit: punchng.com](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c24061_653e9c237a9a470a8ef1dedeacf694d9~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_62,h_54,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/c24061_653e9c237a9a470a8ef1dedeacf694d9~mv2.png)
Stadiums, Ultras & Palestinian Solidarity in North Africa
In several authoritarian countries in North Africa, football stadiums are often one of the few public places where free political expression is permitted, as freedom of speech, normally heavily restricted, becomes difficult to police. This can be seen with the many displays of solidarity with Palestine since October 7th. While public protests are often banned or tightly controlled, using their large numbers and organisation, football ultras have carved out free spaces on their terraces where the angry youth of their countries are more able to express themselves free from the control of the police or state, turning their stadiums into vehicles of resistance.
In Morocco, Raja Club Athletic supporters have recently revived an iconic pro-Palestinian chant emphasizing the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people called Rajawi Filistin:
“Oh to that our heart is sad for
Our eyes have been tearing for years
Oh my lovely Palestine
Oh where, the Arabs are still asleep
Oh the most beautiful country
Keep resisting, may God protect you.”
The Moroccan national team and its supporters repeatedly waved Palestinian flags after victories during the 2022 World Cup, when Morocco became both the first African and Arab nation to reach a semi-final. The controversy this sparked in Israeli media prompted a response from the Moroccan government insisting that it did not reflect their nation's stance. Morocco currently largely avoids criticism of Israel as it seeks to strengthen its diplomatic ties with Israel and the West. In a country where the majority oppose this normalisation, this highlights the value of stadiums and ultras as a site and method of expressing authentic popular sentiment.(15)(16)
In Tunisia, fans of Espérance Sportive de Tunis conducted a huge choreography during the African Champions League final on October 28th, as they have done on other occasions. After the game against Egypt’s Al Ahly finished 0-0, it was the ultras who made headlines when the crowd of 34,000 supporters displayed massive mosaic-like banners with messages including “Made in Gaza” and “A free country in an occupied world... these are our noble values.” Such displays underscore the fans' political alignment as well as representing many Tunisian citizens' feelings on the conflict in a nation where the government and police have suppressed pro-Palestine demonstrations on the streets.(17)
In Algeria, public demonstrations are also heavily restricted following the large protest movement that toppled President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019. However, pro-Palestinian displays continue in stadiums—the only place they can avoid the scrutiny of the state. In an interview with Al Jazeera, an ultra from Wydad AC in Morocco explained this in terms of the “crowd effect” in football stadiums. In this way, stadiums and ultras from Belarus to Türkiye continue to enable greater freedom of expression by acting as some of the last bastions of free speech and political organisation within their authoritarian societies.(18)
Conclusion
Ultras are not just regular football fans, but rather are deeply embedded in highly politicised fan communities whose influence can extend far beyond the autonomous spaces they often inhabit both inside and outside the stadium. Irrespective of whether the ultras in these spaces subscribe to the far-left, far-right or some other affiliation, the frequent throughline is anti-establishment authority. Ultras’ ability to mobilise large, passionate crowds makes them a significant and very real force in shaping political discourse and outcomes in their societies.
Ultras have responded in very different ways to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and although far from unanimous, the majority have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people for several social, cultural and ideological reasons. In addition to the actions outlined above, fan groups have been highly active in reaching out to FIFA, football’s governing body, with calls to suspend Israel from international competitions amidst the ongoing violence in Gaza. This demonstrates how ultras, often on the frontline of demonstrations, are not just reacting to events in their own countries, but are actively working to challenge large institutional and state policies. Their activism reflects the growing power of football supporters to influence broader political movements as they confront issues of human rights, state violence, and international solidarity in ways that extend far beyond the game itself.(19)
Bibliography
Tamsut, Felix. 2020. “When far-right football fans take to the streets in Israel” DW News. 8 June. https://www.dw.com/en/violent-protests-in-israel-when-far-right-football-fans-take-to-the-streets/a-54463825
Dey-Helle, Yann. 2024. “Violences à Amsterdam: Qui sont les supporters du Maccabi Tel Aviv?” Dialectik Football. 9 November. https://dialectik-football.info/violences-a-amsterdam-qui-sont-les-supporters-du-maccabi-tel-aviv/
UN. 2024. “Rights expert finds ‘reasonable grounds’ genocide is being committed in Gaza” United Nations. 26 March. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147976
France 24. 2024. “Israeli football fans return home after night of violence in Amsterdam” France 24. 9 November. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241108-israeli-football-supporters-back-home-after-amsterdam-violence
Adar, Shaul. 2022. “Tale of neglect: how Beitar Jerusalem became infected with racism” The Guardian. 12 May. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/12/how-beitar-jerusalem-became-infected-with-racism
Newman, Katherine Mary. 2024. “Why Chile has a Palestinian football team – the bigger history” The Conversation. 21 May. https://theconversation.com/why-chile-has-a-palestinian-football-team-the-bigger-history-229849
UN Türkiye. 2024. “Gaza: Number of children killed higher than from four years of world conflict” United Nations Türkiye. 14 March. https://turkiye.un.org/en/263401-gaza-number-children-killed-higher-four-years-world-conflict
Dialectik Football. 2024. “Tribunes Libres #19: “Free Palestine”” Dialectik Football. 12 October. https://dialectik-football.info/tribunes-libres-19-free-palestine/
Dialectik Football. 2024. “Des maillots en soutien au peuple palestinien” Dialectik Football. 22 June. https://dialectik-football.info/des-maillots-en-soutien-au-peuple-palestinien/
Dey-Helle, Yann. 2024. St. Pauli: le drapeau terni du club pirate” Dialectik Football. 19 May. https://dialectik-football.info/st-pauli-le-drapeau-terni-du-club-pirate/
Nalton, James. 2023. “St. Pauli supporter clubs clash over Palestine solidarity” Morning Star. 3 November. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/st-pauli-supporter-clubs-clash-over-palestine-solidarity
Lajee Celtic. 2019. “Aida Celtic - The Beginning” Lajee Celtic. https://www.lajeeceltic.com/aida-celtic-an-imminent-legacy
Al Jazeera. 2024. “PSG fans’ ‘Free Palestine’ tifo draws criticism from French minister” Al Jazeera. 7 November. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2024/11/7/psg-fans-free-palestine-tifo-draws-criticism-from-french-minister
Dey-Helle, Yann. 2024. “PSG: un tifo qui défie la criminalisation du soutien à la Palestine” Dialectik Football. 8 November. https://dialectik-football.info/psg-un-tifo-qui-defie-la-criminalisation-rampante-du-soutien-a-la-palestine/
Rabat, Basma El-Atti. 2023. “Morocco's football Ultras stand with Palestine in the face of normalisation” The New Arab. 15 June. https://www.newarab.com/analysis/moroccos-ultras-its-palestine-first-football-second
Kasraoui, Safaa. 2020. “Survey: 88% of Moroccans Reject Diplomatic Recognition of Israel” Morocco World News. 8 October. https://moroccoworldnews.com/2020/10/322016/survey-88-of-moroccans-reject-diplomatic-recognition-of-israel
Prensa Latina. 2024. “Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive club supports Palestine” Prensa Latina. 19 May. https://www.plenglish.com/news/2024/05/19/tunisias-esperance-sportive-club-supports-palestine/
Agence France-Presse. 2024. “North Africa football fans show support for Palestinians” VOA Africa. 9 May. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7604266.html
Busse, Jan and Wildangel, René. 2023. “The Rebellious Game: The Power of Football in the Middle East and North Africa between the Global and the Local” The International Spectator: Italian Journal of International Affairs 58(2), 75-91. https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2023.2182021