Palestinian football legend Suleiman al-Obeid has been killed in an Israeli strike while waiting for aid in southern Gaza. The 41-year-old, widely known as the “Pele of Palestinian football,” was among at least 18 people killed on Wednesday during an attack near a distribution centre, according to the Palestinian Football Association.
Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals during his career and played 24 international matches for the national team, Al-Fida’i. He was best remembered for his scissor-kick goal against Yemen in the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship. He began his club career at Khadamat al-Shati before joining Al-Amari Youth Center in the West Bank.
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The Palestinian Football Association said the attack brings the number of athletes and their families killed in Gaza since the war began to 662. Of those, 321 are football-related deaths, including players, referees, coaches and officials.
The death toll at Gaza aid sites has now surpassed 1,300 since late May, with authorities warning of worsening famine. Medical sources say four more people, including children, died of starvation in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of hunger-related deaths to 197 since October 2023. Al-Obeid is survived by his wife and five children.
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