BARCELONA (EJP) --- Hamas declared a media boycott of Barcelona Thursday, in reaction to reports the renowned football club had invited former Palestinian captive-turned sports columnist Gilad Shalit to attend one of its key matches as its guest, despite a local pro-Palestinian protest against the “gesture of goodwill” towards a former Sergeant Major of the Israel Defense Forces”.

According to club vice president Carles Vilarrubi, Barcelona FC - home to internationally celebrated players such a Lionel Messi and Andreas Iniesta – issued the invitation to renowned club fan Shalit in the name of “unity not divisions” and the gesture “does not indicate in any way that Barca takes a position in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.

Hamas officially rejected Barcelona’s official position however, with spokesman Attallah Abu Al Subah announcing the group had prohibited the future broadcast of any of the club’s matches in the Gaza Strip, in a media ban that also extended to print reports.

A source at the Israeli Embassy in Madrid claimed the some 600-strong protest was organised by Electronic Intifada, a minority fringe group which in no way reflects the country’s general consensus and slammed the lobby’s attempts to hijack what it described as “an important humanitarian issue”.

Shalit, who was held hostage by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas for five years, was freed in a prisoner exchange agreement last October and has since become a sports writer for the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth in June.

He is expected to take up the offer to travel to Spain a the club’s guest for its renowned El Clasico match against fierce Spanish rivals Real Madrid, on October 7.