The terrible famine in the Gaza Strip is affecting the transfer market. Ideology, politics, and war influence all sectors, and football is no exception. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is shaping the future of forward Shon Weissman (Kiryat Haim, Haifa, 1996). The signing of the Jewish goal scorer has been rejected by Fortuna Düsseldorf after pressure from the German club's fans due to the player's stance in recent years regarding Israel's repression of the Gazan population.
Bild reported on Tuesday that the footballer had previously posted several messages on his social media after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in which 1,219 people died, leading to Israel's offensive in Gaza, resulting in over 60,000 deaths. Bild recalled that Weissman had asked Israel on social media to "wipe Gaza off the map" or to "drop 200 tons of bombs" on this Palestinian territory. "There are no innocents (in Gaza), they do not need to be warned," he allegedly wrote in another message. Weissman later deleted the posts, attributing them to an error in a highly emotional moment. However, the Düsseldorf club's fans did not forget the past and pointed out that those comments were "disrespectful and discriminatory, contrary to the principles that Fortuna represents and seeks to promote."
After his signing was ruled out, the forward stated that he will not change his views on the conflict. "I will continue to proudly carry the flag of my country wherever I play," he said. He also emphasized that he will not allow himself to be considered an inciter of hatred.
"I am the son of a nation in mourning for the horrors of October 7. That black day remains a wound for me as a member of an Israeli family and as an athlete representing my country," Weissman explained in reference to the killing of hundreds of Israelis by Hamas. "It is possible and necessary to oppose harm to innocent people on both sides, but I will not allow myself to be portrayed as someone who incited hatred," added the 29-year-old forward, who has played 33 games for Israel and recently went to Düsseldorf for a medical check-up with Fortuna. "I am deeply grateful for the support I have received from people who truly know me, and I will continue to proudly carry the flag of Israel wherever I play," he emphasized.
The Jewish footballer faced protests from Granada fans when he joined the club in January 2023. Granada is willing to part ways with the forward to reduce the club's wage bill. Weeks ago, the forward had offers from Greek and Cypriot clubs, but no agreement was reached.
Weissman is not the only player whose career has been affected by this war. In 2023, Mainz, a Bundesliga club, dismissed the Dutch-Moroccan player Anwar El Ghazi for several social media posts, a dismissal that German justice deemed unjustified, as reported by Afp. Noussair Mazraoui, former Bayern Munich defender now at Manchester United, had to apologize after calling for "victory" for "our oppressed brothers in Palestine" on social media.