Palestinian refugees record thank you message to Celtic fans

Palestinian refugees have recorded a thank you message to Celtic fans after they raised over £140,000 for Middle East charities.

Filmed at the Lajee Center in Bethlehem, the group of refugees can be seen sporting Celtic’s home strip and banners with its crest while chanting the club’s name.

Celtic supporters raised more than £140,000 for charities in Palestine in a bid to match any impending fine handed to the club by UEFA after fans waved Palestine flags during the home leg of their Champions League clash with Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

• READ MORE: Celtic fans smash £110l target for Palestine charities

Fans protest with Palestinian flags at Parkhead as Celtic faced H. Beer-Sheva FC. Picture: John Devlin

The initial target was to raise £15,000 in line with a fine Celtic was handed the last time Palestinian flags were waved by fans in 2014. The bar was quickly revised upwards to £110,000 as the campaign, named #MatchTheFineForPalestine, gained momentum.

So far 8204 people have donated £140,141 to an online fundraising page set up by supporters group The Green Brigade.

The money is set to be divided between Medical Aid Palestine (MAP) and the Lajee Centre, a Palestinian cultural base in the Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem which helps displaced young people.

Uefa have yet to disclose what sanctions Celtic now face for the flag display.

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