Since October 7, 2023, at least 663 athletes and sports officials have been killed, including 322 affiliated with the PFA.
Suleiman al-Obeid, a legendary figure in Palestinian football known as the “Palestinian Pelé,” was killed last Wednesday in an Israeli attack on civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). He was 41.
Born in Gaza on March 24, 1984, al-Obeid began his career with Khadamat al-Shati before moving to Markaz Shabab al-Am’ari in the occupied West Bank and later to Gaza Sport.
He became a fixture in the Palestinian national team following his debut in 2007, earning 24 caps and scoring twice. His most memorable goal — a spectacular scissor-kick against Yemen — came during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation championship.
Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'.
A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times. pic.twitter.com/wGSXCq2ceo
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 8, 2025
During his long career, al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football.
His skill, creativity, and leadership on the pitch earned him the nickname “the Palestinian Pelé” — a nod to the Brazilian great widely regarded as one of the best players in history.
The PFA said al-Obeid was killed while attempting to obtain humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip amid widespread starvation and shortages of food and water. He is survived by his wife and five children.
His death came just a week before the killing of another Gaza footballer, Mahmoud Rafeh Shaheen of Al-Tuffah Sports Club, who was targeted by Israeli forces while waiting for aid. Shaheen was the second Al-Tuffah player to be killed in two weeks, following his teammate Ismail Abu Dan.
The PFA says the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza has devastated Palestinian sports. Since October 7, 2023, at least 663 athletes and sports officials have been killed, including 322 affiliated with the PFA — among them players, coaches, administrators, referees, and club board members. At least 288 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed, 268 of them in Gaza. The association’s headquarters in Gaza was among the sites hit in Israeli air raids.
With American backing, Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians — most of them women, children, and the elderly — and injured over 152,000, according to Palestinian authorities.
Thousands remain missing under the rubble. The famine caused by the blockade has claimed the lives of dozens of children and continues to push thousands to the brink of starvation.
(PC, AJA, Palestinian media)
Horrifyed by the killing in Hebron !!!!
BRAVO Ryanair !!!
Fifa and UEFA are pro genocide. Boycott all fifa and Uefa sponsored competitions until they ban the zionist mongrels and their teams.