GAZA – Former Palestinian national team player Suleiman al-Obeid, widely known as the “Pelé of Palestine,” was killed in an Israeli airstrike while waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza, the Palestinian Football Federation said Tuesday.
The 41-year-old, celebrated for his technical skill and distinctive style, died when Israeli forces targeted a group of civilians amid heavy bombardment. Al-Obeid, born in Gaza on March 24, 1984, leaves behind a wife and five children.
According to the federation, at least 662 athletes and their relatives have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, including 103 children. Of these, 421 were footballers. It said 288 sports facilities in Gaza and the West Bank have been damaged or destroyed, half of them football fields and clubs.
Tributes from teammates, coaches, and fans poured in on social media, underscoring the deep grief within Palestine’s sports community. The strike comes as international calls grow for the protection of civilians and infrastructure, appeals that have so far gone unheeded.
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