Pep Guardiola says killing of children in Gaza ‘hurts my whole body’
During speech accepting honorary doctorate, Manchester City coach called on people to refuse 'to be silent or still when it matters most'
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has spoken out against Israel’s war on Gaza, saying that the killing of children was “so painful”.
He made the comments on Monday while receiving an honorary degree from the University of Manchester for his contribution to the city in northern England.
Guardiola said that he was “deeply troubled” by images he had seen “in Ukraine, in Sudan and in Palestine, in Gaza”.
“We see the horrors of thousands and thousands of innocent children, innocent mothers and fathers, innocent entire families, suffering, starving, being killed.”
He said that despite this, many leaders “don’t consider the inequality”.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has spoken out against Israel’s war on Gaza, saying that the killing of children was “so painful”.
He made the comments on Monday while receiving an honorary degree from the University of Manchester for his contribution to the city in northern England.
Guardiola said that he was “deeply troubled” by images he had seen “in Ukraine, in Sudan and in Palestine, in Gaza”.
“We see the horrors of thousands and thousands of innocent children, innocent mothers and fathers, innocent entire families, suffering, starving, being killed.”
He said that despite this, many leaders “don’t consider the inequality”.
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body. And let me be clear, it’s not about ideology. It’s not about ‘I’m right’, or ‘you’re wrong’. Come on. It’s just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour,” the football manager went on.
He added that when people see boys and girls, around four years old, “being killed at the hospital because it’s not a hospital any more”, they might deem it “not our business”.
“We can think that it’s not our business, but be careful. The next one will be ours. The next four-, five-year-old kids will be ours.”
He said that when he looks at his own three children now, since the beginning of the war in Gaza, he feels “so scared”.
Guardiola has won six Premier League titles as manager of Manchester City, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport.
He was presented with the honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester’s chancellor, Nazir Afzal, at Whitworth Hall.
On what people can do to make a difference in relation to the war in Gaza, Guardiola shared a story.
“There is a story I remind you of. A forest is on fire. All the animals live, terrified, helpless. But a small bird flies back and forth… carrying drops of water in its little beak.
“A snake laughs and asks: ‘Why bro? You will never put the fire out,’” the 54-year-old said.
“The bird replies, yes, I know it… I’m just doing my part.”
Guardiola said that the bird knew it couldn’t stop the fire, but “it refused to do nothing”.
“In a world that often tells us we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me the power of one is not about the scale. It’s about choice, about showing up, about refusing to be silent or still when it matters most.”
His comments came just a day after Israeli forces intercepted a UK-flagged aid vessel aiming to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The boat’s 12-person crew included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid – including rice and baby formula – to Gaza and to raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there.
According to Palestinian health and government officials, since October 2023, at least 54,880 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, of whom 28,000 are women and girls.
Among those killed, at least 1,400 are health sector workers, over 300 UN aid workers, and more than 220 journalists.
