Al-Obeid was generally known as the ‘Pele of Palestinian soccer’ and have become one in every of its brightest stars.
Palestinian nationwide soccer staff participant Suleiman al-Obeid has been killed in an Israeli assault on support seekers in Gaza.
Al-Obeid, 41, was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces attacked folks ready close to an support distribution centre in southern Gaza, the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation stated.
He was nicknamed the “Pele of Palestinian soccer” – after the Brazilian skilled footballer extensively thought to be among the best 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 staff participant and star of the Khadamat al-Shati staff, Suleiman Al-Obeid, was martyred after the [Israeli] occupation forces focused these ready for humanitarian support within the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday,” the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation stated in an announcement.
Whereas FIFA refuses to ban Israel from its competitions, Israel has killed a whole bunch of soccer gamers in Gaza since October 2023.
They embody Suleiman Al-Obeid, who was nicknamed the “Pelé of Palestinian soccer” and was killed whereas ready for support in Gaza on August 6. pic.twitter.com/P9VoZHJ5W0
— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 6, 2025
With al-Obeid’s dying, the variety of athletes and their relations killed within the Strip for the reason that begin of Israel’s war 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, probably the most well-known of which was a scissor kick purpose in opposition to the Yemeni nationwide staff through the 2010 West Asian Soccer Federation Championship.
The soccer star leaves behind a spouse and 5 kids.
Greater than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed close to support distribution websites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Basis because it started operations in late Could.
A minimum of 18 folks have been killed whereas in search of support on Wednesday, medical sources advised Al Jazeera, amid a rising starvation disaster within the territory as Israel continues to impose extreme restrictions on provides of humanitarian support.
Gaza’s hospitals, in the meantime, have recorded 4 new deaths because of famine and malnutrition over the previous 24 hours, based on the enclave’s Ministry of Well being, elevating the overall variety of hunger-related deaths to 197, together with 96 kids, since Israel launched its conflict on Gaza in October 2023. Many of the deaths have been in current weeks.
