GAZA CITY — The “Pele” of Palestinian soccer hoped to maintain scoring objectives till he was 50. An Israeli tank shell dashed that dream a decade early, his household mentioned, killing Suleiman al-Obeid as he queued in southern Gaza this week to gather meals.
Obeid’s widow Doaa al-Obeid now clutches the blue-and-white quantity 10 shorts he wore for his Gaza membership, Al-Shati, one of many solely mementos she has of her late husband, as she and her 5 kids mourn the revered 41-year-old striker.
“That is probably the most treasured factor left behind by him,” she mentioned.
The household have few different belongings of Obeid, whose residence was destroyed in a bombardment earlier this 12 months. They now reside in a tent among the many ruins of a neighborhood of Gaza Metropolis.
Obeid, likened by followers to Brazilian nice Pele for his expertise and purpose scoring, hit headlines this week after Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah criticized a tribute to Obeid by Europe’s governing physique UEFA that didn’t point out the reason for demise.
“Are you able to inform us how he died, the place, and why?” wrote Salah.
The Palestinian Soccer Affiliation mentioned Obeid was killed in an assault by the Israeli navy in southern Gaza whereas ready to gather assist at a distribution level.
His household mentioned it was a tank shell that killed him.
Responding to Salah’s publish on X, an Israeli navy spokesperson Nadav Shoshani mentioned: “Hey Mohamed, After an preliminary evaluate, we discovered no information of any incidents involving Suleiman al-Obeid. With the intention to take a more in-depth look, we’d like extra particulars.”
Obeid, who had performed for the Palestinian nationwide workforce, was nonetheless enjoying for his membership in Gaza when the struggle between Israel and Hamas started in October 2023.
Hamas attacked Israeli cities and villages killing greater than 1,200 individuals. Israel in response has laid waste to the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave housing greater than 2 million individuals, and killed some 61,000 Palestinians.
Most have been killed by airstrikes, artillery and gunfire, however a rising quantity are ravenous to demise.
‘This participant was a gazelle’
Obeid saved enjoying all through the hardship, his widow Doaa mentioned.
“He used to go coaching every single day and by no means stopped, not a single day. Even in the course of the disaster of struggle, within the midst of rockets, shelling and mass killing, he would go play. He used to collect his associates and family members and go play with them,” she mentioned.
The Palestinian Soccer Affiliation says a whole lot of athletes and sports activities officers are amongst these killed by Israel’s assault, with most sports activities services now destroyed.
Palestinian soccer followers say they’ll focus not on Obeid’s violent demise however his legacy.
“Youngsters referred to as him the Henry and Pele of Palestine,” mentioned Hassan al-Balawi, a barber in Gaza Metropolis, in a comparability additionally with French nice Thierry Henry.
“This participant was a gazelle—after we stepped onto the pitch, we loved watching him. All Palestinian soccer followers loved Captain Suleiman al-Obeid.” — Reuters