Gaza artists paint footballer Lamine Yamal mural on rubble honoring his solidarity gesture.

SHOTLIST: GAZA, PALESTINE (MAY 13, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN ARTISTS AHMAD AL-HALEBI AND OBAID AL-KIRSHELLI DRAWING AND PAINTING PORTRAIT OF BARCELONA FOOTBALLER LAMINE YAMAL ON COLLAPSED WALL OF DESTROYED BUILDING 2. PALESTINIAN ARTIST AHMAD AL-HALEBI SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Arabic) 3. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN ARTISTS PAINTING PORTRAIT OF LAMINE YAMAL 4. PORTRAIT ON COLLAPSED WALL AMONG RUBBLE (TWO SHOTS) GAZA, PALESTINE - MAY 13, 2026: Two Palestinian artists in Gaza City painted a large portrait of Barcelona footballer Lamine Yamal on the rubble of a destroyed building on Wednesday, May 13, in recognition of his display of solidarity with Palestine during La Liga celebrations. Drawn on a collapsed wall on top of the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike, the artwork conveys a message of appreciation for Yamal’s symbolic act of raising the Palestinian flag during the championship celebrations. As the artwork stands in the largely destroyed Shati refugee camp, the artists Ahmad Al-Halebi and Obaid Al-Kirshelli said they deliberately chose the site to highlight the scale of devastation in Gaza. The painting is a tribute to international figures who have publicly shown support for Gaza amid the ongoing conflict and blockade. Al-Halebi, one of the two artists who painted the portrait, said Yamal’s gesture carried strong significance for Palestinians, noting that it helped draw global attention to their cause. Despite limited resources and the risks involved, the artists continue to create works on damaged buildings and debris, aiming to turn destruction into a form of visual testimony and to carry Gaza’s message of gratitude and resilience to the world. Barcelona footballer Lamine Yamal waved a Palestinian flag during the club’s open-top bus parade celebrating its La Liga title victory, drawing widespread attention on social media. Yamal asked a supporter to hand him the Palestinian flag before waving it during celebrations across the streets of Barcelona on Sunday after the Blaugrana defeated archrival Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clasico to secure their 29th league title. The player also shared a photo of himself holding the Palestinian flag on Instagram, drawing praise from many followers. Yamal, considered one of football’s brightest young talents, has previously voiced support for humanitarian causes. While many Arab and Muslim fans praised the gesture, his appearance with the Palestinian flag triggered criticism in pro-Israeli circles, with some debating the move on social media, including calls to keep politics out of sports celebrations. Since joining Barcelona’s first team in April 2023, Yamal has won three Spanish league titles. No player in the club’s history has achieved that feat at such a young age, as the Spanish footballer continues to break records. Reporting by Anas Zeyad Fteha / Writing by Ayse Elif Erdis