Israeli forces kill Palestinian basketball star in Gaza aid centre shooting
Shaalan, 40, was killed at an aid distribution site near Khan Younis while attempting to secure food and medicine for his sick daughter, Maryam, and the rest of his family.
According to local media, Maryam suffers from kidney failure and severe blood poisoning.
Before his death, Shaalan had repeatedly appealed for help in securing proper medical treatment for her.
Nicknamed al-Zilzal - Arabic for "The Earthquake" - Shaalan was a well-known figure in Palestinian sports, having played for several local teams including Khadamat Al-Bureij, Khadamat Al-Maghazi, and Khadamat Khan Younis, as well as representing the national team.
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Images circulating online show mourners gathered around Shaalan's body, which was wrapped in the Palestinian flag with flowers laid atop the shroud.
Shaalan is one of three members of the Palestinian sports community killed in the past 24 hours, alongside Salem al-Shaer, 26, head of the equipment department at Rafah Youth Club, and Ahmed al-Jawrani, 40, a former star of Al-Salah Sports Club.
Israeli forces have killed at least 670 Palestinian athletes since the genocide in Gaza began nearly two years ago, according to Palestinian sports officials.
تغطية صحفية: استشهاد لاعب المنتخب الفلسطيني لكرة السلة "محمد شعلان" بعد استهدافه برصاص قوات الاحتلال أثناء محاولته الحصول على المساعدات الإنسانية في خانيونس لإطعام أطفاله. pic.twitter.com/FDWgdyxPPO — الجرمق الإخباري (@aljarmaqnet) August 19, 2025
Earlier this month, Israeli forces killed former football star Suleiman al-Obeid, nicknamed "Palestinian Pele". He was also killed while queuing at an aid distribution site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Israeli forces have killed more than 2,000 Palestinians at GHF sites since late May.
The GHF launched a controversial aid distribution mechanism on 27 May following nearly three months of an Israeli blockade on the entry of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip.
Human rights groups have since accused it of being complicit in international crimes.
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