Kyrie Irving changes Instagram profile picture in support of Palestinian cause

Kyrie Irving Posts Image of Palestinian Child Blocked from School on Instagram

NBA player Kyrie Irving has updated his social media profile picture to an image of a young Palestinian boy sitting behind a barbed wire fence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The photo, which is now visible on Irving’s Instagram account with 20.2 million followers, shows the child looking back at Israeli soldiers standing behind the fence.

The image is reminiscent of an incident that occurred earlier this month in Umm al-Khair, where Palestinian schoolchildren found a barbed wire fence blocking their route to school. The barrier was erected by settlers without legal authorization and has been refused removal by soldiers despite community concerns. The children were reportedly met with tear gas and sound grenades when they attempted to bypass the fence.

In response to the incident, the Umm al-Khair community launched a march as part of an initiative called “the Umm al-Khair Freedom School”. The event saw schoolchildren walking alongside their peers right up to the fence, where they were met by Israeli soldiers. The children sat on rocks and worked on their schoolwork while the soldiers watched from a distance.

This is not the first time Irving has expressed support for Palestinians in Gaza. He previously wore a shirt with the word “PRESS” during an NBA All-Star game in February to honor journalists covering Israel’s conflict in Gaza. In November 2024, he was seen wearing a chain with the Palestine flag in the shape of Israel’s land mass.

According to reports from the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip at least 2,400 times since its declaration on October 10, 2025. The office also reported that Israel has continued to block humanitarian aid and destroy homes and infrastructure across the strip.

Source: Al Jazeera