Gaza Strike – Aid Official Killed Before Egypt-Argentina Match Screening
Gaza Strike – An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed a senior Palestinian relief official shortly before Egypt’s World Cup match against Argentina was due to begin, local health authorities said. The incident disrupted plans for public football screenings across the territory and underscored the continuing civilian toll of strikes reported during the ceasefire period.
Strike hits vehicle in Gaza City
The attack took place at dusk on Tuesday in the Sabra area of Gaza City, where a vehicle was hit on a street that had reportedly been struck about 30 minutes earlier without causing casualties.
Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, said four people were brought to the facility after the strike. Those killed included Mohamed al-Wahidi, who headed public relations for the Egyptian Committee in Gaza, as well as Ahmed Daghmush, 33, who was driving the vehicle. Two brothers, Hamza al-Deri, 10, and Fari al-Deri, 8, were also killed, according to Abu Selmiya.
Aid committee official was involved in match screenings
Al-Wahidi had played a role in organising large-screen broadcasts of World Cup matches in different parts of Gaza, according to the Egyptian Committee. The initiative was intended to give residents an opportunity to gather and follow the tournament despite the wider humanitarian crisis.
The committee is a relief body linked to the Egyptian government and provides food, shelter support and other assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. It said the football-screening project was among its community activities in the enclave.
The planned viewing of the Egypt-Argentina match had drawn particular interest among Gaza residents, with Egypt’s national team receiving growing support from Palestinian fans during the tournament.
Israeli military says official was not the intended target
The Israeli military said al-Wahidi was not the target of the strike. It said the operation was directed at a Hamas militant and that officials were reviewing whether Daghmush may have been the intended target.
Abu Selmiya described Daghmush as a taxi driver and said he was not known to have ties to any armed group. The Israeli military did not immediately provide further details on the review.
Israel has repeatedly said its military operations are aimed at armed militants and that it seeks to reduce civilian casualties. Palestinian health officials and humanitarian organisations have continued to report civilian deaths in Gaza during the truce.
Egypt team expresses support for Palestinians
Egypt has served as a major mediator in efforts connected to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and is home to a large Palestinian community near the Gaza border. Support for Egypt’s football team has increased among Palestinian fans during the World Cup, particularly after comments by coach Hossam Hassan about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Following Egypt’s win over Australia on Friday, Hassan dedicated the result to Egyptians and Palestinians and displayed a Palestinian flag on the field. Ahead of the Argentina match, he appealed to media workers and athletes around the world to speak up for Palestinians.
He called for Palestinians to be allowed to live in safety and maintain their own lives, urging a broader international message of support.
Death tolls reported during ceasefire period
The Israeli military says 1,027 Palestinians, including 258 children, have been killed since the ceasefire took effect in October. Five Israeli soldiers have also been killed during that period, according to Israeli authorities.
The Gaza Health Ministry says the overall Palestinian death toll from the war has reached 73,098. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led administration in Gaza, does not separate civilians from fighters in its public figures. It says women and children account for about half of those killed. United Nations agencies and independent experts have generally regarded the ministry’s records as detailed, while noting the difficulty of independently verifying figures during the conflict.
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 others, according to Israeli authorities.