Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed deep anguish over the ongoing war in Gaza, saying it “hurts my whole body” during an emotional speech as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester on Monday.
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts my whole body,” said the 54-year-old. “It’s not about ideology. It’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s about the love of life and caring for your neighbour.”
His comments come as the war continues following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to AFP. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 54,981 deaths, the majority of whom are civilians—a figure the UN deems credible.
“Maybe we think it’s not our business when four-year-old children are killed by bombs or die in hospitals that no longer function,” Guardiola continued. “But be careful—the next child could be ours.”
The City boss, known for his outspoken support of Catalan independence, said he sees his own children in the images of Gaza’s young victims. “Every morning since this nightmare began, I look at Maria, Marius, and Valentina—and I’m terrified.”
Guardiola received the honorary degree in recognition of his exceptional achievements at Manchester City, including six Premier League titles, and his philanthropic work through the Guardiola Sala Foundation, which supports disadvantaged communities.
Other football figures have also spoken out. In October 2023, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah urged world leaders to act and stop the killing of innocent civilians. The following month, German club Mainz terminated Dutch player Anwar El Ghazi’s contract over his social media posts related to the conflict.
