Latest news with #Suleimanal-Obeid
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Palestinian Pelé' Suleiman al-Obeid killed in Israeli attack in southern Gaza; fans mourn his death
The Palestinian sporting community is in mourning following the death of Suleiman al-Obeid, a former national team striker affectionately known as the "Palestinian Pelé." The 41-year-old was killed in Gaza while waiting for humanitarian aid, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) confirmed. He leaves behind his wife and five children. UEFA's tribute sparks mixed reactions The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) posted a tribute on X (formerly Twitter), calling him "a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times." Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times. While some fans welcomed the recognition, others criticised the message for omitting any mention of the circumstances surrounding his death. Who killed him @UEFA??? How did he die? He was killed while trying to find a few scraps of food for his 5 children. He didn't pass away peacefully in bed, you spineless cowards. From local pitches to international recognition Al-Obeid's football journey began with Khadamat al-Shati in Gaza before he moved to the West Bank to play for Markaz Shabab al-Am'ari. He later joined Gaza Sport, where his sharp eye for goal made him one of the most feared forwards in the league. Across his club career, he scored over 100 goals, earning the nickname that would follow him for life. Making his debut for Palestine in 2007, al-Obeid earned 24 caps and scored twice for the national side. His most celebrated moment came in 2010 when he executed a stunning scissors kick against Yemen in the West Asian Football Federation Championship - a goal still remembered fondly by fans. Sport under siege in Gaza The PFA says the conflict has taken a devastating toll on Gaza's sporting community. Since October 2023, 662 people involved in sports - including 321 from football - have been killed. The tragedy comes amid an escalating hunger crisis, with UN reports indicating more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access food aid since late May.
Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Israel kills the 'Palestinian Pele' Suleiman al-Obeid
Palestinian player Suleiman al-Obeid (L) during a West Asian Football Federation Championship (WAFF) match in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on June 20, 2007. PHOTO: AFP/FILE Former Palestine national team player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the "Palestinian Pele", has been killed by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip, the sport's local governing body said. Obeid, 41, was killed Wednesday when Israeli forces "targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip", the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement. With Gaza in the throes of a hunger crisis, the UN rights office said last month that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,300 Palestinians trying to get food aid in the territory since late May. An ex-star of the Khadamat Al-Shati club in Gaza, Obeid played 24 international matches for team Palestine, the PFA said. "During his long career, Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football," it added. The midfielder also played for the Al-Amari Youth Center Club in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. While living there in 2010, Obeid was among six players on the national team from Gaza who were turned back at the Jordanian border for "security reasons" on their way to a friendly in Mauritania. An Israeli security official said at the time that the players had failed to renew special permits allowing them to play in the West Bank. "When I heard that we would be forbidden from travelling I was very upset, because any athlete dreams of wearing his national jersey in international forums," Obeid told AFP in 2010. "We want to be able to travel freely with our families, just like athletes anywhere else in the world." Israel had previously allowed the six players to travel with the team. Born in Gaza City, Obeid was married and had five children. Since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, 662 people from the sport and scouting sector have been killed, including 321 in the football community, according to the PFA. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,258 in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Middle East Eye
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Middle East Eye
UEFA pays tribute to Palestinian footballer killed in Gaza
The union for European football, UEFA, paid a brief tribute on Friday to Palestinian footballer from Gaza, Suleiman al-Obeid. Obeid was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza while attempting to collect food aid for his family earlier this week. Uefa did not name his killers or say how he was killed. "Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times," Uefa wrote on X.
Ya Libnan
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Ya Libnan
‘Palestinian Pelé' shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza
Suleiman al-Obeid, a former Palestine national football team player dubbed the 'Palestinian Pelé', was shot dead Wednesday by Israeli troops who opened fire on people waiting to receive humanitarian aid, the Palestinian Football Association said. Former Palestine national team player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the 'Palestinian Pelé', has been killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip , the sport's local governing body said. Obeid, 41, was killed Wednesday when Israeli forces 'targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip', the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement. With Gaza in the throes of a hunger crisis caused by Israel's severe restrictions on the amount of humanitarian aid it allows into the besieged territory, the UN rights office said last month that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,300 Palestinians trying to get food aid in the enclave since late May. Around 12,000 children aged under five in Gaza are suffering from acute malnutrition, and hunger-related deaths are rising, the World Health Organization has said. An ex-star of the Khadamat Al-Shati club in Gaza, Obeid played 24 international matches for team Palestine, the PFA said. 'During his long career, Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football,' it added. The midfielder also played for the Al-Amari Youth Center Club in the West Bank , which Israel has occupied since 1967. While living there in 2010, Obeid was among six players on the national team from Gaza who were turned back at the Jordanian border for 'security reasons' on their way to a friendly in Mauritania . An Israeli security official said at the time that the players had failed to renew special permits allowing them to play in the West Bank. 'When I heard that we would be forbidden from travelling I was very upset, because any athlete dreams of wearing his national jersey in international forums,' Obeid told AFP in 2010. 'We want to be able to travel freely with our families, just like athletes anywhere else in the world.' Israel had previously allowed the six players to travel with the team. Born in Gaza City, Obeid was married and had five children. Since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas 's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, 662 people from the sport and scouting sector have been killed, including 321 in the football community, according to the PFA. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,258 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. (FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- Sport
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Palestinian ex-footballer killed by Israeli forces in Gaza
Former Palestine national team player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the "Palestinian Pele," has been killed by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip, the sport's local governing body said. Obeid, 41, was killed Wednesday when Israeli forces "targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip," the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement. With Gaza in the throes of a hunger crisis, the U.N. rights office said last month that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,300 Palestinians trying to get food aid in the territory since late May. An ex-star of the Khadamat Al-Shati club in Gaza, Obeid played 24 international matches for team Palestine, the PFA said. "During his long career, Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football," it added. The midfielder also played for the Al-Amari Youth Center Club in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. While living there in 2010, Obeid was among six players on the national team from Gaza who were turned back at the Jordanian border for "security reasons" on their way to a friendly in Mauritania. An Israeli security official said at the time that the players had failed to renew special permits allowing them to play in the West Bank. "When I heard that we would be forbidden from travelling, I was very upset, because any athlete dreams of wearing his national jersey in international forums," Obeid told AFP in 2010. "We want to be able to travel freely with our families, just like athletes anywhere else in the world." Israel had previously allowed the six players to travel with the team. Born in Gaza City, Obeid was married and had five children. Since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, 662 people from the sport and scouting sector have been killed, including 321 in the football community, according to the PFA. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,258 in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
