'This is our problem': Guardiola speaks out on Gaza genocide, global injustice

By Yunus Kaymaz

LONDON (AA) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the killing of innocent people around the world deeply affects him and urged people not to remain silent in the face of injustice, speaking at a press conference ahead of his team’s Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg match against Newcastle United.

“Never in human history have we had everything so clearly in front of our eyes,” Guardiola said. “The genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, in Russia, in Sudan – everywhere. This is our problem as human beings.”

The 55-year-old coach said the issue went beyond politics or taking sides, stressing that protecting human life must come first.

“It’s not only about Palestine. It’s about every cause that can make humanity better,” he said. “People fleeing wars, leaving their countries, crossing the Mediterranean – don’t ask whether it’s right or wrong. Rescue them. When people are dying, you have to help.”

Criticizing the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal authorities in Minneapolis last month, Guardiola said the incident illustrated the need to speak out against injustice. “Look what happened in the United States of America — Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed,” he said, calling the deaths indefensible and questioning how such acts could be defended. “If something is wrong, go to court, sue, go to jail. That’s modern society,” he added.

Guardiola said it was painful to witness images of civilians suffering despite modern technological and social progress.

“We can reach the moon, we can do incredible things, but we still kill each other.

“When I see those images, it hurts me. When thousands of innocent people are killed, it hurts. I will always stand up against that. When you see fathers, mothers, children having their lives destroyed every single day, how can you not feel something? I feel it,” he said.