Israeli airstrike kills Palestinian footballer, wife, two children

In a heart-wrenching incident amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict, a Palestinian footballer, his wife, and their two children were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Ahmad Abu al-Atta, 34, a prominent player for the Gaza Strip team Al-Ahly Gaza, and his family tragically lost their lives when an airstrike hit their residence in Gaza City.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) confirmed the devastating news, identifying the victims as Ahmad Abu al-Atta, his wife Ruba Esmael Abu al-Atta, a medical professional, and their two young children.

While the exact date of the incident was not specified by the PFA, local media reported that the airstrike occurred on a Friday.

This tragic event is not an isolated case within the sporting community in Gaza. Earlier reports by the PFA highlighted the death of international referee Hani Mesmeh, who succumbed to injuries from a previous Israeli airstrike in May.

Since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, over 300 athletes, referees, and sports officials have perished, and all sports facilities in Gaza have been destroyed, according to Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Olympic Committee.

The conflict has seen the loss of several sports figures, including soccer player Mohammed Barakat, who was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis in March, and FIFA International Assistant Referee Mohammed Khattab, who died alongside his wife and four children in an Israeli offensive in the Deir Al Balah neighborhood of Gaza in February.

The loss of Ahmad Abu al-Atta and his family adds to the mounting toll on Gaza’s sports community, underscoring the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians and athletes alike.