Israeli Gunfire Kills Former Palestinian Basketball Player
(MENAFN) An Israeli military strike has killed Mohammed Shaalan, a former standout on the Palestinian national basketball team, as he searched for food in southern Gaza, media reported late Tuesday.
Shaalan, 40, was gunned down in Khan Younis while reportedly attempting to find food and medicine for his daughter, Maryam, who is battling kidney failure and severe blood poisoning, according to media.
Nicknamed “The Earthquake,” Shaalan had played for numerous local teams and was widely recognized for his role on the Palestinian national squad.
His death follows the recent killing of Suleiman al-Obeid, a former footballer known as the “Palestinian Pelé,” who was shot while waiting for humanitarian aid near a distribution center in southern Gaza. That incident also drew sharp backlash from the international sports community.
Since the start of Israel’s military campaign on October 7, 2023, more than 800 athletes have died in Gaza, Palestinian officials say. Ongoing Israeli bombardments, widespread hunger, and decimated infrastructure have severely impacted the region’s sports and civilian sectors alike.
The offensive has claimed the lives of over 62,000 Palestinians, according to the same officials. Famine conditions are worsening across the enclave.
In response to the escalating death toll and humanitarian crisis, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel is also the subject of an ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its conduct in Gaza.
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