Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel-Malek has been killed in an Israeli air strike targeting Gaza City’s southern Sabra neighborhood, according to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). The 20-year-old served as the captain and goalkeeper for the Gaza Sports Club and was described by his team as a club legend. The 20-year-old was the 1,017th person involved in sport to be killed in Gaza in Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, according to figures provided by the PFA.
His death marks a grim milestone as the 1,017th individual involved in sports to be killed since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023. This loss occurred only five days after Abdel-Malek competed in the final of the Thousand Martyrs Cup for the Gaza and Northern division, a tournament organized to honor the thousands of athletes and officials lost during the conflict. A tournament named after the more than 1,000 athletes and sports officials killed in the Strip since October 2023, abdel-Malek’s death came five days after he played in the final of the Gaza and Northern Gaza division of the Thousand Martyrs Cup.
Gaza Sports Club finished the competition as runners-up.
The tournament, which saw participation from over 200 clubs across the West Bank, Gaza, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, was held simultaneously to signify national resilience. PFA President Jibril Rajoub noted that the event stood as a testament to the Palestinian belief that sports remain a symbol of life and hope despite the ongoing crisis. Including 146 from the occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, more than 200 clubs competed. The tournament kicked off simultaneously in the three locations.
The impact on local athletics has been severe. Palestinian Sports Media Federation Secretary-General Mustafa Siam characterized the situation as an existential crisis, reporting that more than 50 of Gaza’s 56 sports clubs and roughly 20 FIFA-supported football fields have been destroyed or bulldozed by Israeli forces. Stadiums, academies, and sports halls have also been devastated across the territory.
The casualty occurred shortly after the reported death of 15-year-old Mohammad Nidal Barbak, who was shot by Israeli forces while playing football with friends in the al-Mawasi region of Khan Younis. These incidents have fueled further calls for FIFA to take action against the Israeli Football Association (IFA) for persistent breaches of international anti-discrimination regulations. In March, the PFA called for the Israeli Football Association (IFA) to receive a ban after a report by FIFA’s disciplinary committee found that the IFA “failed to take meaningful action against Beitar Jerusalem” for “persistent and well-documented racist behaviour”. According to “We maintain our right and continue our efforts to ensure that the Israeli Football Association is expelled from all international institutions,” Rajoub, who also heads the Palestine Olympic Committee,, At the time.
Rajoub, who also chairs the Palestine Olympic Committee, stated that his organization continues to pursue the expulsion of the IFA from global governing bodies.
He cited the repeated targeting of athletes and the systematic destruction of sports infrastructure as clear evidence of illegal activity by Israeli officials.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 74,645 deaths and 175,978 injuries among the Palestinian population, according to health ministry data. At least 74,645 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, while 175,978 have been injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
