A decade of Lajee Celtic: The Palestinian club whose fans include Cantona
Lajee Celtic, a football club based in a Palestinian refugee camp, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary in London. The project, which began as a local sports initiative, has evolved into a global symbol of solidarity supported by international figures.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of grassroots sports, international diplomacy, and the ongoing cultural impact of the Palestinian refugee experience.
The football club founded in a West Bank refugee camp has built a global movement of solidarity.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Based in Aida refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, Lajee Celtic is beloved by pro-Palestinian sports fans globally [Courtesy of Lajee Celtic] By Liam O'Hare Published On 10 Oct 2026 10 Oct 2026 London, United Kingdom – Nearly 200 people packed into Edami, a small Lebanese bakery in east London, to celebrate a decade of Lajee Celtic, a grassroots sports club based in a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
What began as a football project has grown into an international symbol of solidarity.
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