Official: Over 1000 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel in Gaza

The toll increased after Jabalia Services Club player Abdel Fattah Abu al-Aish was killed Saturday when an Israeli strike hit an electric motorcycle operated by a private delivery company in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, Palestinian Sports Media Federation Secretary-General Mustafa Siam said.

Abu al-Aish had been preparing with his team to compete in the Thousand Martyrs’ Cup, a tournament organized by the Palestinian Football Association that was scheduled to begin Sept. 4, Siam said.

His death comes amid “continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian sports,” Siam said, adding that the fatalities include players, coaches, referees and Palestinian Football Association officials.

Israeli attacks have also devastated Gaza’s sports infrastructure, destroying stadiums, clubs, sports halls and academies as well as bulldozing several sports facilities, he said.

The human losses and destruction have placed Palestinian sports in what Siam described as an “existential” crisis.