Palestinian Football Icon Suleiman al-Obeid Killed While Seeking Aid in Gaza
Known as the “Pele of Palestinian football,” the former national team star was among those killed in an Israeli attack as hunger and humanitarian desperation deepen in the war-torn enclave
Suleiman al-Obeid, one of Palestinian football’s brightest stars, was killed Wednesday when Israeli forces struck a crowd gathered near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza, the Palestinian Football Association said. He was 41.
Nicknamed the “Pele of Palestinian football” for his prolific scoring and commanding presence on the pitch, al-Obeid was celebrated across Gaza and the West Bank.
Over a career spanning more than a decade, he scored more than 100 goals and built a legacy of creativity, skill, and resilience.
“Former national team player and star of the Khadamat al-Shati team, Suleiman al-Obeid, was martyred after the [Israeli] occupation forces targeted those waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday,” the association said in a statement.
Palestinian Sports: From Growth to Collapse
For years, despite political restrictions and limited infrastructure, sports in Palestine — particularly football — were a unifying force.
Clubs like Khadamat al-Shati and Al-Amari Youth Center produced players who inspired young athletes, while the national team, Al-Fida’i, competed on regional and international stages.
Al-Obeid’s career reflected that upward trajectory. Beginning with Khadamat al-Shati in Gaza, he later joined Al-Amari in the West Bank, navigating the logistical and political challenges of moving between the territories.
His international career included 24 matches and two goals, one a spectacular scissor kick against Yemen in the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship that became an enduring highlight.
But the war in Gaza has left Palestinian sports in ruins.
Since October 2023, at least 662 athletes and their family members have been killed, including 321 from football alone — players, coaches, referees, administrators, and club officials.
Stadiums have been destroyed, training facilities reduced to rubble, and entire teams wiped out.
Aid Lines Turn Deadly
Al-Obeid’s death came as he stood among people waiting for food near facilities run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization criticized for its operations.
At least 18 people were killed in the same strike, medical sources told Al Jazeera.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that famine and malnutrition have claimed 197 lives since the war began, including 96 children.
As hunger deepens and the conflict rages, the loss of sports heroes like al-Obeid underscores how an entire generation of Palestinian athletes — and the dreams they inspired — is being cut short.
