Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has again paid tribute to Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, displaying the names of sisters Lana and Bana Ahmad on his eye black during a recent National Football League (NFL) game. This act comes despite prior fines and the risk of being removed from play.
During Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, Al-Shaair wore the names of Lana, 12, and her eight-year-old sister Bana. The sisters, along with their family, died in an Israeli air attack earlier this month. Before the game, Al-Shaair shared images of the sisters on Instagram, followed by a photo of the eye black he would wear. His black shoes also featured stitched flags of Palestine and Sudan.
Al-Shaair, a Black American Muslim player, has consistently highlighted the struggles of Palestinians. On September 13, he wore the name of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl killed in Gaza on January 29, 2024, when Israeli soldiers fired on her family’s stranded car.
The NFL previously fined Al-Shaair $11,491 for violating the league’s code of conduct regarding player clothing and equipment during a game against the Buffalo Bills. Basketball player Kyrie Irving offered to cover this fine, an offer Al-Shaair later confirmed receiving.
When asked about the fine last week, Al-Shaair stated, “It’s bigger to me; what’s a life worth? Is a life worth $11,000? No, I think it’s priceless.”
In a subsequent game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Al-Shaair wore eye black with the name of Wafa Akila, an eight-year-old killed with her father in an Israeli attack in western Gaza while they were returning home.
He also faced a fine in January of the last NFL season for displaying the message “Stop The Genocide” on his nose tape. Although not explicitly tied to a specific conflict, it was widely interpreted as referring to Gaza and Sudan. Following his tribute to Hind Rajab, Al-Shaair was reportedly informed by US media that he would have to remove the eye black or face removal from the game.
US Democratic politician Isaiah Martin criticized the NFL’s reported response to Al-Shaair’s actions. Martin posted on X, “This harms no one by letting him do this. I think it’s absurd they were fining him, but those were the ‘rules’ and he agreed to pay the fine. Removal from the game is INSANE. This shouldn’t stand!”
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has severely impacted education for the Strip’s 660,000 children, with 90 percent of schools damaged or destroyed. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israel has killed at least 21,500 children since October 7, 2023.
