CrossFireArabia
The number of Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during its ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,014, including players, coaches, referees, and members of the Palestinian Football Association, according to a Palestinian sports official.
The toll increased after the death of Abdel Fattah Abu Aish, a player for Khadamat Jabalia Club, on Saturday. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted an electric bicycle belonging to a private delivery company in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City.
In a statement to Anadolu Agency, Mustafa Siam, secretary-general of the Palestinian Sports Media Union, said Abu Aish was preparing with his team to participate in the “Thousand Martyrs Cup” tournament, scheduled to begin on 4 September, organized by the Palestinian Football Association.
Siam added that Abu Aish’s death comes amidst “continuous Israeli targeting of Palestinian sports,” noting that 1,014 athletes have been killed by Israel during the offensive in Gaza, including players, coaches, referees, and members of the Palestinian Football Association.
He explained that the Israeli targeting also extended to sports infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces destroyed stadiums, clubs, gyms, and sports academies, and bulldozed a number of fields and facilities.
He pointed out that the human losses and the damage inflicted on facilities have placed the Palestinian sports movement before what he described as “existential” challenges.
Jabalia Services Player
Abu Al-Aish played for Jabalia Services Club in the Palestinian First Division League. He had previously played briefly for Ahli Beit Hanoun Club, where he played as a defender.
His funeral was held in Gaza City on Sunday, with the participation of athletes and Palestinian fans. Jabalia Services Club mourned him, describing him as one of the rising talents in the North Gaza Governorate.
The losses to the Palestinian sports movement were not limited to the Gaza Strip. Siyam said that athletes were also killed in the occupied West Bank, while players, coaches, and administrators were arrested.
Widespread Destruction
According to the Palestinian Sports Media Union, Israel destroyed more than 50 out of 56 sports clubs in the Gaza Strip governorates, and approximately 20 five-a-side football pitches built by the Palestinian Football Association with support from FIFA.
The killing of Abu al-Aish comes at a time when Palestinian sports institutions are preparing to resume a number of activities and competitions, despite the widespread destruction of sports facilities and the lack of resources in the Gaza Strip.
In early March, the first steps to revive sports activity in Gaza began with the organization of the first official five-a-side football tournament, held on only three pitches that survived the destruction.
Efforts to revive sports activity face significant challenges due to the losses suffered by facilities and personnel.
On 8 October, 2023, Israel, with American support, began its genocide in Gaza, which resulted in more than 73,000 deaths and over 174,000 injuries among Palestinians, most of whom were children and women.
Despite the ceasefire agreement in effect since 10 October, 2025, Israel continues to violate the agreement through daily bombings that have killed 1,320 Palestinians and injured 4,385 others, most of them children and women, in addition to widespread destruction. Anadolu
