Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has publicly addressed the death of a prominent Palestinian footballer who was often likened to the iconic Pele.
Suleiman al-Obeid, aged 41, was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza on Thursday while he was waiting for humanitarian aid, according to the Palestine Football Association.
In a statement, the association said: “Throughout his impressive career, al-Obeid scored over 100 goals, establishing himself as one of the top figures in Palestinian football.”
Al-Obeid played 24 times for Palestine’s national team, scoring twice, and earned the nickname “the Palestinian Pele.” A native of Gaza City, he was a husband and father of five, and had represented his country during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
On August 8, UEFA issued a statement saying: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pelé’. A talent who inspired hope in countless children, even in the darkest times.”
Salah, who has previously condemned violence in Gaza, shared UEFA’s message on his X account (formerly Twitter), where he has over 19 million followers, and added: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
He also posted a screenshot of the message to his Instagram account, which has over 65 million followers. SPORTbible has contacted UEFA for a response.
In 2023, Salah appealed to global leaders for immediate humanitarian assistance to Gaza after nearly 500 people were killed in an explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City.
In a video posted on Instagram, Salah said: “It’s not always easy to speak at times like these. The violence and suffering are unbearable. Recent escalations have been heartbreaking. Every life is valuable and must be protected. The killing must end. Families are being destroyed.
“What’s urgent now is getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Conditions are desperate. The images from the hospital last night were horrifying. People need food, water, and medical supplies immediately.
“I’m urging world leaders to act now to stop the killing of innocent lives. We must put humanity first.”
According to the Palestine Football Association, 421 footballers have died or starved in Gaza since the conflict escalated, including 103 children. Additionally, 288 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed across the region.
Last month, the UN human rights office reported that more than 1,300 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces while trying to access food aid since late May.
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