A devastating Israeli strike in Gaza has claimed the life of a prominent Palestinian aid official, Mohamed al-Wahidi, who was instrumental in organising public screenings of the World Cup across the enclave. The incident occurred moments before the kickoff of a highly anticipated Egypt-Argentina World Cup match, transforming what was intended as a moment of collective celebration into a stark reminder of the near-daily Israeli strikes that continue to claim civilian lives in Gaza. The strike hit a car in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City at dusk on Tuesday, killing al-Wahidi, 10-year-old Hamza al-Deri, his 8-year-old brother Fari, and Ahmed Daghmush, 33, the driver of the vehicle.
Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, confirmed the deaths of the four individuals. The Israeli military stated that al-Wahidi was not the intended target of the strike, claiming the operation was aimed at a Hamas militant and adding that it was investigating whether Daghmush was the target. However, Dr Abu Selmiya maintained that Daghmush, a taxi driver, was not known to be affiliated with any militant group.
An earlier Israeli strike on the same street, half an hour prior, caused no casualties. The Egyptian Committee, for which al-Wahidi worked, serves as the relief arm of the Egyptian government, providing essential food, shelter, and other assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. The committee was also behind the initiative to erect screens across Gaza for residents to watch the football matches.
Egypt played a crucial role as a mediator in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, and many within the Palestinian diaspora reside just across the border in Egypt. The Egyptian team’s fanbase in Gaza has expanded significantly since the start of the tournament, partly due to coach Hossam Hassan, who has consistently highlighted the plight of the Palestinian people in press briefings and on the pitch. Hassan dedicated his team’s victory over Australia on Friday to both Egyptians and Palestinians, waving a Palestinian flag on the pitch.
During a briefing on Monday, ahead of the match against Argentina, Hassan implored the international community to do more for the Palestinian people, saying ‘I urge you, I urge all media officers, all athletes worldwide, regardless of their identities, maybe we can convey a collective message that is as follows, let the Palestinian people be, let them exist, let them live a life of their own.’ The conflict began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. Since the truce came into effect in October, at least 1,027 people, including 258 children, have been killed. Five Israeli soldiers have also died during this period.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports the Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war at 73,098, with women and children accounting for approximately half of all fatalities.
