The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has confirmed that Suleiman al-Obeid, a footballer known as the 'Palestinian Pelé', was killed in an Israeli attack in southern Gaza. The 41-year-old died on Wednesday when Israeli forces struck civilians waiting for humanitarian aid, the PFA said.
Al-Obeid, born in Gaza on 24 March 1984, began his career with Khadamat al-Shati and later played for Markaz Shabab al-Am'ari in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Sport. He debuted for the Palestinian national side in 2007, earning 24 caps and scoring two goals, including a memorable scissor-kick against Yemen during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation championship. The PFA noted that he scored over 100 goals in his career, earning the nickname 'the Palestinian Pelé'.
His death adds to a growing toll of athletes lost in Gaza since the war began. The PFA reported that at least 662 sportspeople and their relatives have been killed, including 421 footballers, of whom 103 were children. Additionally, 288 sports facilities across Gaza and the West Bank have been damaged or destroyed, with 268 in Gaza and 20 in the West Bank. The PFA's headquarters in Gaza was also hit during an Israeli air raid.
More than 1,300 Palestinians have been reported killed near aid distribution points managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since its launch in late May.
