Karim Benzema accused of having ties to terrorist group by French minister

Karim Benzema has been accused by a French minister of having ties with a terrorist group.

Benzema has shown his support for Palestine following the attacks from Israel.

Innocent civilians have tragically lost their lives, including women and children.

Taking to X, the Real Madrid legend wrote: "All our prayers for the inhabitants of Gaza who are once again victims of these unjust bombings which spare no women or children."

Former Aston Villa winger Anwar El-Ghazi has also supported Palestine online, with Mainz suspending him over his social media post.

Benzema's post on social media, though, has been criticised by Gerald Darmanin, who is the Interior Ministry head.

"Mister Karim Benzema has notorious ties, as we all know, with the Muslim Brotherhood," he told C News.

“Just by writing that, he [Benzema] is an agent of Hamas propaganda because Hamas has a strategy to physically destroy Israel, but also to destroy Israel through international public opinion."

Valerie Boyer, a French senator, has called for the star forward's Ballon d'Or to be rescinded should Darmanin’s allegations be proven

Karim Benzema in action for Al Ittihad. Image: Getty

The Frenchman now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al Ittihad and he revealed that he was motivated with the switch to the Middle East by his religion.

The 35-year-old said: "Because I’m Muslim and this is a Muslim country, and I have always wanted to live here," he said in June when asked about his wish to move to Saudi Arabia.

“It’s different, it’s different to Europe. I’ve already been to Saudi Arabia and I feel good about it. Most importantly, it’s a Muslim country, it’s beloved and it’s beautiful. It’s where I want to be because it’s important for me to be in a Muslim country, where I feel people (are) already like me."

SPORTbible has reached out to Benzema for comment.

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Topics: Karim Benzema, Football

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@NasJabbar