About Lajee Celtic
Born from Solidarity.
Led by Palestinians.
Lajee Celtic is a multi-sports club based in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, occupied Palestine. The Club is open to all Palestinian youth and children and mainly serves those in and around Bethlehem, especially those within the three refugee camps in the city. It operates as a project of Lajee Center – a creative, cultural community centre established in 2000 by young people from Aida camp.
The Club’s formation is rooted in a solidarity action in Glasgow during a 2016 UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Zionist colonial club Hapoel Be’er Sheva. The Celtic ultras group, the Green Brigade, unfurled hundreds of Palestinian flags during the game in support of the Palestinian people and in opposition to the Zionist club, which resulted in a UEFA fine.
The Green Brigade responded to the fine with a fundraising campaign to “Match The Fine For Palestine”- to give the money to Palestinian charities, not to pay the fine. Over £176,000 was raised by supporters worldwide and shared between two Palestinian organisations. Half of the amount was given to Medical Aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the other half to Lajee Center.
The exposure from the flag display and subsequent fundraising campaign encouraged more solidarity actions within football stadiums across the world and was the birth of Aida Celtic – the first iteration of this project.
Aida Celtic developed from a small community solidarity initiative into a registered sports club and was rebranded as Lajee Celtic in 2024 to reflect the growth in programmes, reach and representation beyond Aida camp. ‘Lajee’ means ‘refugee’ in Arabic and Lajee Celtic is more inclusive and universal name which best represents the aims and values of our club.
Lajee Celtic has an elected Board of Directors with nine members and a General Assembly made up of fifty members, all based in or around Aida camp. They are responsible for providing guidance and governance for the Club.
Lajee Celtic has around 200 athletes across football, boxing and table tennis with the ambition to keep expanding with more athletes, more sports and more opportunities.
Lajee Celtic also has a growing international network of supporters, partners and solidarity activists spanning 63 countries. Our international hub is based in Glasgow and maintains the roots of the project and our important connection with the Green Brigade and Celtic supporters.
Lajee Celtic’s story begins with an ethical stand for Palestine that rejected the complicity of silence. Since then, we have established our place within the wider international solidarity and resistance movement in football across the world.
Above all else, Lajee Celtic is an ambassador for the Palestinian cause. We use all of our platforms, partnerships and international networks to promote Palestinian voices, culture, rights and resistance.
Resistance until liberation and return!
- 2012 — Lajee Center & Green Brigade meet in Glasgow
- 2015 — Bethlehem to Belfast: first joint project
- 2016 — 'Match The Fine for Palestine' raises £176,076
- 2019 — Green Brigade visit Palestine: Aida Celtic officially formed
- 2022 — Primal Scream 'Palestinadelica' shirt launch
- 2024 — Lajee Celtic re-brand | South Africa football tour
- 2025 — International football call-ups | Red Card 'Israel' campaign
- 2026 — Boxing Gold & Rome trip | Table Tennis launched | 200+ athletes
Our vision
To build an inclusive and connected community in Aida refugee camp and the wider Bethlehem area, where young people can thrive through sport, culture and collective action - representing Palestine with pride on local, national and international platforms. Our work contributes to the international solidarity network for the Palestinian cause and struggle.
Our Mission
Through multi-sport initiatives, we aim to develop skills, nurture talent and create spaces for connection, community cohesion and wellbeing. We amplify Palestinian voices and identity by building strong local and international partnerships, using sport as a platform for solidarity and collective action.
Our Home
Lajee Center
Lajee Center is a creative, cultural community centre in Aida refugee camp and the host organisation of Lajee Celtic. It was established in April 2000 by a group of 11 young people from the camp who wanted to serve their community. ‘Lajee’ means ‘refugee’ in Arabic.
The centre works with new generations of Palestinians as they continue their ongoing struggle for justice and rights. Its main aim is to provide refugee children, youths and all residents with cultural, educational, social and developmental opportunities. Programmes are designed in response to the particular needs of the community and the skills and abilities of its members, while always remaining in full support and defence of all Palestinian rights.
Lajee Center provides Lajee Celtic with resources, facilities and organisational support. The relationship between the centre and the club is foundational, the club could not exist without it.
Aida Camp
Aida Refugee Camp
Aida refugee camp was established in 1950. There are over 5000 Palestinian refugees living in the camp who are displaced from 27 Palestinian villages destroyed during the Nakba of 1948. The camp is located on the outskirts of the city of Bethlehem and is surrounded by the 10-metre concrete colonial wall and six occupation watchtowers. There is a military base adjacent to the camp and residents are subjected to regular attacks and invasions by the colonial occupation forces. Aida camp suffers the same collective punishment experienced by all Palestinian refugee camps: lack of space and community resources, limited electricity, restricted water supply, no freedom of movement, and systemic violence from the colonial occupation forces.
Our Impact
From Aida Camp to
63 countries and counting.
What started as a solidarity project between Aida refugee camp and Celtic supporters has grown into a global movement. These numbers tell part of our story.
Thank you to our partners and sponsors who have made our journey possible.
Youth
Development
Sport offers young people in Aida camp structure, purpose and ambition. We provide moral support, training, coaching and facilities to grow individually and as part of a team. Beyond sport, we encourage our young people to develop life & social skills and to make a positive contribution to their community.
Community
Resilience
Under military occupation, sport can provide recreation, belonging and health & wellbeing benefits. We enable young people from different areas to meet and socialise despite the challenges of separation and isolation imposed by the occupation. We promote the importance of community and encourage wider community participation.
International
Connection
Through tours, campaigns and solidarity networks, our teams and supporters build meaningful international partnerships from Glasgow to São Paulo, Madrid to Johannesburg. A key focus of the Club is to sustain, develop and empower the global community of international solidarity in football and sport.
Representation
The names of Palestinian refugee camps within Palestine and the diaspora are stitched onto the crests of our kit, carrying Palestine into every match and competition. Sport offers a platform for us to represent Palestine in all that we do, whether through tours or in competition. We continue to represent our people and country with pride.
Accessibility
The Club is open to all Palestinian youth and children, mainly serving those in and around Bethlehem, especially those within the three refugee camps in the city. All of our programmes are free to ensure equal access. With your continued support, we have ambitions to grow our programmes, expand our reach and spread our resources.
Transparency
Lajee Celtic is governed by an elected Board of Directors introduced in 2024. We are a legally registered sports club in Palestine and operate as a project of Lajee Center in Aida refugee camp, providing a further level of governance. We receive critical support from a volunteer network managed by Lajee International, registered in Scotland.
Empowered by Sport.
Sustained by you.
Lajee Celtic began with two football teams and has grown into a multi-sport club bringing together over 200 athletes from Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. The Club provides moral support, training, coaching and facilities for young people and children to develop their skills and grow within sport.
Our aim is to support young people to develop and grow as individuals and part of teams, promoting key sporting and social values at all times. Our athletes represent the Club and Palestine with integrity and pride on local, national and international platforms.
Many of our athletes and coaches face daily obstacles because of the ongoing colonial violence and colonial expansion across Palestine. This includes restriction on movement, military checkpoints and the threat of arrest and violence. Despite this, their commitment has never wavered and our teams continue to grow, compete and excel while representing Palestine.
Sport is not just a game or competition for us. It is a powerful tool for connection, community empowerment and solidarity.
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Football: Over 140 players across senior, youth and academy squads.
Senior team tour of South Africa. Leading force in restarting organised football in the West Bank after 2023. 2 International call-ups. - Boxing: Over 30 boxers across senior, youth, children and female teams. 2 gold medalists at our first national tournament. 2 boxers fought in landmark event in Italy. In partnership with the ACLAI Palestine gym.
- Table Tennis: Three training groups for children, youth and senior. Ranked in the top three sports in our 2025 community survey.
- Multi-Sport Pitch: In development. Basketball and volleyball teams planned for 2026 with a focus on female inclusion.
Be part of something bigger than sport.
Contribute to Lajee Celtic’s work and support young people and children to access football, boxing, table tennis and other sports opportunities. Join our community & spread the word.