More than 1,000 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during Gaza genocide: official
Palestinian sports official says players, coaches, referees and football federation personnel are among 1,014 killed as Israel devastates Gaza’s sports infrastructure
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) — At least 1,014 Palestinian athletes and sports personnel have been killed by Israel during its genocide in the Gaza Strip, including players, coaches, referees and Palestinian Football Association officials, according to a Palestinian sports official.
Palestinian Sports Media Federation Secretary-General Mustafa Siam told Anadolu that the toll rose after Jabalia Services Club player Abdel Fattah Abu al-Aish was killed Saturday when an Israeli strike hit an electric motorcycle operated by a private delivery company in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood.
Abu al-Aish had been preparing with his team to compete in the Thousand Martyrs’ Cup, a tournament organized by the Palestinian Football Association and scheduled to begin Sept. 4, Siam said.
His death comes amid what Siam described as “continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian sports.”
Israeli attacks have also devastated Gaza’s sports infrastructure, destroying stadiums, clubs, sports halls and academies and bulldozing several other facilities.
Siam said the scale of the deaths and destruction has pushed Palestinian sports into an “existential” crisis.
Abu al-Aish was a defender for Jabalia Services Club in the Palestinian first division and had also briefly played for Ahli Beit Hanoun.
His funeral was held in Gaza City on Sunday, attended by athletes and Palestinian supporters. Jabalia Services Club described him as one of northern Gaza’s emerging talents.
The losses have extended beyond Gaza. Palestinian athletes have also been killed in the occupied West Bank, while players, coaches and administrators have been detained, Siam said.
According to the Palestinian Sports Media Federation, Israel has destroyed more than 50 of Gaza’s 56 sports clubs and about 20 five-a-side football fields established by the Palestinian Football Association with FIFA support.
Abu al-Aish was killed as Palestinian sports bodies were attempting to resume limited competitions despite widespread destruction and severe shortages of facilities and resources.
Efforts to revive organized sports began in early March with an official five-a-side football tournament. Only three fields that had escaped destruction were available to host the competition.
Israel launched its genocide on Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 wounded, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian figures.
Despite a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Israeli attacks have continued. Gaza’s Health Ministry says 1,320 Palestinians have been killed and 4,385 wounded since the agreement took effect, most of them women and children.
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