Salah Demands UEFA Answers on Death of Gaza Footballer Suleiman Obeid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Mohamed Salah has questioned UEFA’s tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid, killed in Gaza. The Palestine Football Association says Israeli forces shot Obeid while he awaited aid. UEFA and Israeli officials have responded, as the conflict’s toll on athletes mounts.
Suleiman Obeid Tribute Controversy Quick Looks
- Mohamed Salah questions UEFA’s tribute to ex-Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid.
- Obeid, 41, allegedly shot by Israeli forces while waiting for aid in southern Gaza.
- PFA says Obeid played 24 international matches, scoring two goals, and over 100 in local leagues.
- UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin called Obeid “more than just a footballer” in tribute letter.
- Israeli military says no record of incident, requests more details from Salah.
- PFA claims 662 Palestinian athletes and sports officials have been killed since the war began.
- UN says nearly 1,400 Palestinians killed while seeking aid since May, mostly by Israeli fire.
- War began Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 in Israel and abducted 251.
Salah Demands UEFA Answers on Death of Gaza Footballer Suleiman Obeid
Deep Look
Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah is pressing UEFA for clarity over its farewell to former Palestinian international Suleiman Obeid, who, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA), was killed last week in southern Gaza while waiting for humanitarian aid.
Salah took to social media platform X to respond to UEFA’s message, which referred to Obeid as the “Palestinian Pele” and praised his impact on young fans. “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” Salah asked, challenging the European football governing body to provide more context on the circumstances of Obeid’s death.
The PFA reported that Obeid, 41, was fatally shot by Israeli forces on Wednesday near an aid distribution site. He leaves behind a wife and five children. The Associated Press has not independently verified this account. The PFA described Obeid as “one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football,” noting he had played 24 games for the national team, scoring twice, and more than 100 goals during his domestic career.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, in a letter shared by the PFA, expressed that he was “deeply saddened” by Obeid’s death. He praised Obeid as more than just a footballer, saying he represented resilience and hope for children in Gaza.
“His passing is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who understands the power of sport to inspire,” Čeferin wrote.
The Israeli military has publicly responded to Salah’s post. Spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said, “After an initial review, we found no records of any incidents involving Suleiman al-Obeid. In order to take a closer look, we need more details.”
The PFA claims Obeid’s death brings the number of Palestinian athletes and sports officials killed since the outbreak of the 22-month war to 662. The United Nations human rights office has previously reported that since May, nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed while trying to obtain aid in Gaza—almost all, it says, by Israeli fire.
The wider conflict continues to take a devastating toll. Israel’s air and ground campaign in Gaza has killed tens of thousands, displaced the vast majority of residents, and left much of the territory in ruins and on the brink of famine. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251 others.
Obeid’s death and the reaction from figures like Salah have spotlighted the intersection of sport, politics, and human tragedy in the region. For many fans and players, the loss of a national sports figure like Obeid is not just a personal tragedy but a reminder of the broader human cost of the conflict.
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