Footballer Zuhair Al-Hajj Ahmad was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Zaytoun area, east of Gaza City.
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) confirmed the sad news via its official social media accounts. In the statement, the PFA expressed its deepest condolences to the victims' families and the national football community.
Zuhair is said to be one of the players who has played for a local club and is part of the big Palestinian football family.
Field reports from Gaza indicate that the attack occurred near the Salahuddin Mosque in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. In addition to Zuhair, several other civilians were injured, including Al Mayadeen news channel correspondent Akram Daloul.
Zuhair Al-Hajj Ahmad was a former player for the Gaza Sports Club and widely known among local football fans. His death joins the growing list of sports figures who have died since the start of Israel's military escalation in the Gaza Strip.
Citing local Facebook sources in Gaza, as of the same day, at least 116 Palestinians were reported killed as a result of intensive attacks targeting various areas, including refugee camps, residents' homes, schools, and religious facilities.
Many victims included children, women, teachers, medical personnel, and extended family members who were killed in a single attack.
These attacks on civilian communities and public figures have once again brought attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
