Al-Obeid was generally known as the ‘Pele of Palestinian soccer’ and have become one in all its brightest stars.
Palestinian nationwide soccer crew participant Suleiman al-Obeid has been killed in an Israeli assault on assist seekers in Gaza.
Al-Obeid, 41, was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces attacked folks ready close to an assist distribution centre in southern Gaza, the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation mentioned.
He was nicknamed the “Pele of Palestinian soccer” – after the Brazilian skilled footballer broadly considered the most effective soccer gamers of all time.
Throughout his lengthy profession, the Gaza participant scored greater than 100 objectives, making him one of many brightest stars of Palestinian soccer.
“Former nationwide crew participant and star of the Khadamat al-Shati crew, Suleiman Al-Obeid, was martyred after the [Israeli] occupation forces focused these ready for humanitarian assist within the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday,” the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation mentioned in a press release.
Whereas FIFA refuses to ban Israel from its competitions, Israel has killed tons of of soccer gamers in Gaza since October 2023.
They embrace Suleiman Al-Obeid, who was nicknamed the “Pelé of Palestinian soccer” and was killed whereas ready for assist in Gaza on August 6. pic.twitter.com/P9VoZHJ5W0
— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 6, 2025
With al-Obeid’s demise, the variety of athletes and their relations killed within the Strip because the begin of Israel’s conflict has risen to 662.
The variety of football-related deaths in Gaza now stands at 321, together with gamers, coaches, directors, referees and membership board members.
The previous soccer star started his profession with the Khadamat al-Shati membership in Gaza, earlier than becoming a member of the ranks of the Al-Amari Youth Heart Membership within the occupied West Financial institution.
On the worldwide stage, al-Obeid performed 24 worldwide matches with Al-Fida’i, scoring two objectives, essentially the most well-known of which was a scissor kick purpose in opposition to the Yemeni nationwide crew through the 2010 West Asian Soccer Federation Championship.
The soccer star leaves behind a spouse and 5 youngsters.
Greater than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed close to assist distribution websites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Basis because it started operations in late Could.
Not less than 18 folks have been killed whereas searching for assist on Wednesday, medical sources informed Al Jazeera, amid a rising starvation disaster within the territory as Israel continues to impose extreme restrictions on provides of humanitarian assist.
Gaza’s hospitals, in the meantime, have recorded 4 new deaths on account of famine and malnutrition over the previous 24 hours, in response to the enclave’s Ministry of Well being, elevating the full variety of hunger-related deaths to 197, together with 96 youngsters, since Israel launched its conflict on Gaza in October 2023. A lot of the deaths have been in latest weeks.