Celtic are facing growing calls to abandon a proposed £2 million transfer amid mounting opposition from pro Palestinian groups.
The Scottish champions have been urged to walk away from a potential deal with Israeli club Maccabi Netanya by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, known as PACBI.
Reports have linked Celtic with a move for Jocelin Ta Bi, who currently plays for Maccabi Netanya. The Israeli club is owned by Aliya Capital Partners, a firm that holds a significant investment in drone manufacturer XTEND.
PACBI, which helped establish the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, argues that completing the transfer would amount to backing Israel’s actions toward Palestinians.
In a statement, the organisation highlighted that Aliya Capital Partners has invested around $30 million in XTEND. PACBI claims that since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the company has supplied thousands of drones, including armed models, to the Israeli military.
Attention was also drawn to Ross Kestin, Aliya’s executive chief, who serves both as chairman of Maccabi Netanya and as a board member at XTEND. PACBI alleged that the drone firm has openly acknowledged profiting from Israel’s military operations.
The campaign group also criticised what it described as a disconnect between Celtic’s supporters and the club’s leadership. It praised the fan base, particularly the Green Brigade, for their long standing support of Palestinian causes, which has led to multiple sanctions from UEFA over pro Palestinian displays.
PACBI said Celtic supporters have become a symbol of solidarity for Palestinians and accused the club’s hierarchy of repeatedly acting against those values.
That message was echoed by Mohammed Alazraq, a board member of Lajee Celtic, a football club based in the Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem that is supported by Celtic fans.
Alazraq said the drones linked to the companies involved are used to surveil communities, intimidate young people and damage facilities across the West Bank, including sporting infrastructure. He added that a youth football pitch near Aida Camp is now facing demolition orders.
He also expressed disappointment with Celtic’s leadership, saying the club means a great deal to the refugee camp community but that there is frustration over what he sees as a lack of moral leadership when it comes to Palestine.
PACBI urged Celtic to reflect on its own history and values, arguing that a club founded to help those suffering from famine should not associate with entities accused of using starvation as a weapon.
The group said Celtic must carefully consider how supporters’ money is spent and insisted that funding organisations linked to the oppression of Palestinians should not be an option.
Alazraq concluded by saying football should stand for dignity and solidarity, not be used to improve the image of companies and institutions that profit from suffering.