Two years of conflict claim lives of nearly 900 Palestinian athletes

The Gaza Government Media Office announced on Tuesday that Israeli air and ground attacks over the past two years have deliberately targeted not only civilian and military infrastructure but also athletes and sports facilities.

According to the statement, since the beginning of the war, 894 individuals involved in sports — including players, coaches, referees, and club officials — have been killed.
Additionally, 292 sports centers, including football fields, training halls, and youth clubs, have been completely or partially destroyed. The Palestinian Football Association had previously reported the total destruction of 184 sports facilities during Israeli assaults.

Despite this devastation, dozens of Palestinian athletes continue to train with minimal resources, determined to keep their sports alive amid constant danger and bombardment.

Among the athletes killed:

• Hamdan Imad (22), player for Shabab Rafah Club, was killed by an Israeli drone strike on March 12, 2025.
• Mohammed Shallan (40), a prominent basketball player, was killed on August 20, 2025, while trying to collect food aid for his children.
• Suleiman Al-Obeid (41), known as the “Palestinian Pelé” and a former national team player, was killed by Israeli fire on August 6, 2025.

Palestinian sports organizations and unions condemned these attacks as part of a broader campaign of genocide and erasure of Palestinian identity, urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and crimes against athletes and civilians.