Israel Kills Gaza Goalkeeper Days After Tribute Tournament Final

The association said the strike hit Al-Maghribi Street in the Sabra neighborhood on Tuesday, five days after Abdel-Malek played in a tournament final honoring athletes killed in Gaza since October 2023.

Strike Hits Sabra Neighborhood

Gaza Sports Club, which described him as a “club legend” and first-team goalkeeper, said Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel-Malik “was martyred moments ago.”

The Israeli military had not issued a public comment on the killing.

Tournament Honors Slain Athletes

Abdel-Malek’s club finished as runners-up in the Gaza and Northern Gaza division of the Thousand Martyrs Cup, whose final was held on Nov. 5.

The tournament, which began on Sept. 4, marked a return to organized football after the war and the destruction of sporting facilities forced a prolonged suspension, according to Anadolu Agency.

More than 200 clubs took part, including 146 from the occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, the association and Al Jazeera reported.

The competitions kicked off simultaneously in the three locations.

Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub said the event showed that Palestinians had not lost their “national will.”

“Nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life,” he added.

Sports Death Toll Climbs

The association said Abdel-Malek’s death brought the number of Palestinian athletes and sports workers killed since October 2023 to 1,017.

Days earlier, it said Israeli forces had shot and killed Mohammed Nidal Barbakh, a 15-year-old player at Al-Najma Sports Academy, while he was playing football with friends in Al-Mawasi, in Khan Younis, on Friday.

Around 90% of Gaza’s stadiums have been destroyed, with some grounds now occupied by tents housing displaced families, according to the association, after a recent winter storm flooded tens of thousands of tents in the enclave.

Anadolu Agency noted that Tuesday’s airstrike came amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025.

Egypt, Türkiye and Qatar’s intelligence chiefs this week called for an end to such violations.

Gaza’s Health Ministry, cited by Al Jazeera, said at least 74,645 Palestinians have been killed and 175,978 injured since Oct. 7, 2023.

Football figures outside Gaza have also addressed the war, including Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who previously criticized what he called global silence on the enclave.