Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has explained the club’s decision to fly the Palestinian flag at The New Lawn and display messages of support on its digital pitch-side advertising.
The explanation was published after the club adopted a public position on the conflict, saying it could not remain silent in the face of what it described as an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Vince is also flying the Palestinian flag at Ecotricity’s headquarters in Stroud.
Forest Green Rovers said its position was rooted in human rights, international law and the protection of civilians. The club said it wanted to explain why it speaks in support of the Palestinian people, flies the Palestinian national flag, calls for a Free Palestine and criticises the actions and policies of the Israeli government.
“We believe it is important to explain why we speak out in support of the Palestinian people, why we fly the Palestinian national flag, why we call for a Free Palestine and why we criticise the actions and policies of the government of Israel.”
The club said Palestinians had endured profound suffering over many decades and that the humanitarian situation demanded attention and scrutiny. It added that remaining silent in the face of civilian suffering was not the right thing to do.
Club separates criticism from hostility towards Jewish people
Forest Green Rovers stressed that its support for Palestinians should not be interpreted as hostility towards Jewish people, Israelis or Judaism. It said its criticism was directed towards the policies and actions of the Israeli government and the conduct of the Israeli military, rather than people because of their identity.
The club said it condemned antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and all other forms of discrimination. It also condemned terrorism and attacks on civilians, including the attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages.
In setting out its position, Forest Green Rovers said Palestinians should not be equated with Hamas and that the Palestinian national flag should not be equated with the organisation’s flag. It said supporting Palestinian rights did not mean supporting Hamas.
The club also said allegations of unlawful conduct by any government or armed force should be subject to proper scrutiny and, where appropriate, independent investigation. Its statement therefore presented its position as one concerning government policies, military conduct, civilian protection and international law.
Support for civilians on both sides
Forest Green Rovers said it supported the Palestinian people’s right to freedom, dignity, security and self-determination. At the same time, it said concern for Israeli civilians could not be separated from concern about Palestinian civilians and that both peoples deserved safety, dignity and security.
“Concern for Israeli civilians cannot mean ignoring the suffering or rights of Palestinian civilians. Equally, support for Palestinian rights cannot mean ignoring the suffering of Israeli civilians.”
The club said it supported a negotiated two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians could live alongside one another in peace and security. It described its call for a Free Palestine as a call for freedom, equality, human rights and self-determination.
Forest Green Rovers said Palestinians had lived for decades amid occupation, conflict, displacement and restrictions on their rights. It also said the war in Gaza had caused enormous civilian suffering, including widespread displacement, the destruction of homes and essential infrastructure, severe shortages of food and medical supplies, and large numbers of deaths and injuries.
The club said international organisations and human-rights groups had raised serious concerns about the conduct of the conflict and the treatment of Palestinian civilians. It also referred to serious allegations concerning possible breaches of international humanitarian law.
In its statement, the club said Jewish people should be able to live free from antisemitism and fear, while Palestinians should be able to live free from occupation, discrimination and fear. It said Israeli civilians should be protected from terrorism and attacks, Palestinian civilians should be protected from unlawful violence and suffering, and international law and human rights should apply to everyone.
Reference to international legal proceedings
Forest Green Rovers acknowledged ongoing international legal proceedings and emphasised the distinction between allegations and findings that have been finally established by a court.
The club said the International Criminal Court had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in connection with allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also stated that those allegations had not been finally determined by a criminal court and that Israel strongly rejected them.
The club referred separately to provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in proceedings brought by South Africa under the Genocide Convention. It said those proceedings involved serious allegations that remained contested, and that a provisional measure should not be presented as a final finding that genocide had occurred.
Forest Green Rovers also said some human-rights organisations had used terms including “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing” when describing aspects of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. It described those as serious allegations and terms carrying specific meanings in international law and human-rights discourse, adding that the issues deserved serious scrutiny.
The club said its position ultimately reflected a belief in the equal value of human life. It said calling for a Free Palestine was, in its view, a call for freedom, equality, dignity, security and self-determination, rather than a call for hostility towards Jewish people or Israelis.
The source article was published by Stroud Times on September 9, 2026. The supplied material does not state how long the flags or digital messages will remain in place, nor does it report any response from supporters, opponents or local organisations.