REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PARIS — France and Manchester United (MU) legend Eric Cantona returned to provide support and voice his defense Palestine on a personal Instagram account. He wrote that Israel’s crimes must stop immediately.
“‘Defending Palestinian human rights does not mean you are pro-Hamas. Saying ‘Free Palestine’ does not mean you are anti-Semitic or that you want all Jews to disappear,” Cantona wrote in the first two paragraphs of his Instagram account, adapted by the Daily Mail, Tuesday (17/10/2023).
Gaza, Palestine has been raging since Saturday (07/10/2023), leading to the eruption of a major war between Hamas and Zionist Israel.
The issue of Palestinian liberation is also in the spotlight for artists around the world. Many footballers support the liberation of Palestine from the senseless attacks of the Israeli army.
Apart from Mesut Oezil, Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Former French gridiron legend Cantona was also in attendance.
The former Manchester United (MU) Prince expressed his thoughts on the subject but shared an image originally posted by a political activist.
Via Instagram, Cantona posted the image and tagged Canadian-Lebanese writer Najwa Zebian, the person who first shared it.
In his statement, liberating Palestine means freeing Palestinians from the Israeli occupation that has deprived them of their human rights for 75 years.
“Free Palestine means stopping locking up 2.3 million Palestinians in the largest open-air prison in the world, half of whom are children. Free Palestine means putting an end to imposed apartheid by the Israeli government,” the article continues.
The liberation of Palestine also gives the Palestinian people control of basic infrastructure on their territory.
According to reports, 300 civilians were killed in Israel and dozens more were taken hostage, while counterattacks by Israeli forces killed 313 people in the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) gathered to prepare for a ground invasion of Palestinian territory, but it was postponed at the last minute over the weekend amid allegations they had received new intelligence on Hamas movements.
On the other hand, Cantona has not once supported the liberation of Palestine. Previously, Cantona donated funds to help residents Gaza in 2021.
Cantona’s position actually contradicts the French government, which prohibits the public from supporting and organizing pro-Palestinian protests.
“Thinker. Hardcore web aficionado. Zombie evangelist. Pop culture trailblazer. Student. Passionate twitter maven.”
