Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel-Malek was killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza, the Palestinian Football Association confirmed on Tuesday. The association said Abdel-Malek, who served as the captain and goalkeeper of Gaza Sports Club, was targeted in the southern Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper became the 1,017th person involved in sport to be killed in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to figures released by the Palestinian Football Association. His death occurred five days after he played in the final of the Gaza and Northern Gaza division of the Thousand Martyrs Cup.
The tournament was named after the more than 1,000 athletes and sports officials killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Gaza Sports Club finished as runners-up in the competition.
"Club legend and goalkeeper of the first team Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel-Malik was martyred moments ago," the club wrote in a social media post announcing the death.
More than 200 clubs competed in the tournament, which included 146 teams from the occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. The event kicked off simultaneously across the three locations.
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub stated that the event demonstrated that Palestinians had not lost their national will. He added that sport would remain a symbol of hope and life.
Abdel-Malek was killed days after Israeli forces shot dead 15-year-old Mohammad Nidal Barbak on Friday while he was playing football with friends in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Palestinian sports officials say Israeli attacks have destroyed more than 50 of Gaza’s 56 sports clubs and about 20 five-a-side football fields established by the Palestinian Football Association with support from FIFA.
Mustafa Siam, secretary-general of the Palestinian Sports Media Federation, stated in August that the human losses and destruction have left Palestinian sport in an existential crisis. In March, the Palestinian Football Association called for the Israeli Football Association to receive a ban following a report by FIFA’s disciplinary committee regarding persistent racist behaviour by Beitar Jerusalem.
Rajoub, who also heads the Palestine Olympic Committee, stated at the time that the association maintains its right to ensure the Israeli Football Association is expelled from all international institutions. At least 74,645 Palestinians have been killed and 175,978 injured since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
