HistoriCity: How support for Palestine is likely rooted in Spain’s Islamic past

Spain's consistent support for Palestine is likely rooted in its 800-year Islamic past under Al-Andalus.

Al-Andalus began when the Umayyad caliphate conquered the Iberian Peninsula, led by general Tariq ibn Ziyad.

The Arab conquest captured cities like Toledo, Mérida, and Zaragoza, with Sevilla as the first capital followed by Córdoba.

For nearly 800 years, Al-Andalus occupied a central place in the medieval world, introducing Islamic religious and cultural elements.

Spain's modern solidarity with Palestine was exemplified by Spanish players displaying the Palestinian flag during the FIFA World Cup.