Palestinian Goalkeeper Saleem Al-Ashqar Killed by Israeli Forces Amid Ongoing Gaza War

Palestinian goalkeeper Saleem Al-Ashqar was killed earlier this week in Gaza by the Israeli army, according to a statement by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA).The PFA said Al-Ashqar was killed by fire opened by occupation forces.It said he was one of hundreds of Palestinian sporting figures killed, including more than 1,000 Palestinian athletes, since the genocidal war began in October 2023.Al-Ashqar was married five months ago, and his wife is expecting the couples first child.An outpouring of grief from relatives, teammates, and the wider Palestinian sporting and world community have occurred since his death.We deeply mourn the tragic death of 32-year-old Palestinian goalkeeper Salim Al-Ashqar. He was killed by the Israeli army. We are deeply saddened by the continuation of such events. We call for justice and peace, Chilean football club Deportivo Palestino said Wednesday News Analysis & Summary The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) confirmed that 32-year-old goalkeeper Saleem Al-Ashqar was killed earlier this week by Israeli army fire in Gaza. He was married just five months ago and his wife is expecting their first child. Al-Ashqar is among over 1,000 Palestinian athletes reportedly killed since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The PFA condemned the killing as part of a broader genocidal war. Tributes have poured in from teammates, family, and international clubs like Chile's Deportivo Palestino, which called for justice and peace. In my opinion, this tragic incident underscores the devastating human cost of the conflict, where even sports figuressymbols of unity and hopeare not spared. The international community must urgently demand accountability and a ceasefire to protect innocent lives, including athletes who represent resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Source: @trtworld on X/TwitterPublic Engagement Views: 4,043 Likes: 28 Comments: 1 Shares: 21 Published: July 2, 2026, 3:30 am