11-08-2025
Israeli army responds to Mohamed Salah's tweet on Suleiman al-Obeid's death
Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani responded to a tweet by Egyptian national team and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, after he posed three questions regarding the death of Palestinian player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the 'Pele of Palestine.'
During the latter's eulogy for al-Obeid, Salah asked the UEFA, 'Can you tell us how, where, and why he died?'
He condemned what happened to the late player while seeking aid inside Gaza Strip.
Among the comments, the spokesperson responded to Salah, writing, 'Hello Mohamed, after an initial review, we found no records indicating any incidents related to Suleiman al-Obeid. To investigate further, we need more details.'
Shoshani's response was met with widespread condemnation from X users.
Who was Suleiman al-Obeid?
Obeid was considered one of the most prominent Palestinian football players of the last two decades. He represented the Palestinian national team in 24 international matches and played for several clubs, including Khadamat al-Shati, al-Amari Youth Center, and Gaza Sports Club.
'Pele of Palestine' achieved collective and individual titles, most notably being crowned the top scorer in the Palestinian League for two consecutive seasons and contributing to al-Amari's winning the league title in the 2010-2011 season, according to France 24.
Obeid was born in 1984 in Gaza. He began his football career at Khadamat al-Shati Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the Strip, where his offensive talent emerged early on.
His outstanding technical abilities earned him the attention of the Palestinian national team, before he moved to the West Bank in 2010 to join al-Amari Youth Center.
Despite the difficulty of traveling between Gaza and the West Bank due to Israeli restrictions, Obeid continued his career, maintaining a presence in the national sports scene.
He later returned to Khadamat al-Shati, where he finished his career in 2023.
Obeid passed away at the age of 41, after a long sporting career during which he represented Palestinian clubs and the Palestinian national team.
His journey began as a child's passion in the streets of Gaza, and continued on despite the blockade, before his page was tragically turned from that of sports to civilian victims.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
