Football star Pelé, of Palestinian origin, was fatally shot in Gaza.
Suleiman al-Obeid, a beloved figure in the Palestinian football community and the "Palestinian Pelé," tragically lost his life in an Israeli attack on August 7, 2025, while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip[1][2]. The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) announced his death, stating that he was shot dead by Israeli forces while civilians queued for food aid[2].
Born in Gaza City, Suleiman al-Obeid began his football career with the Al-Amari Youth Center Club in the West Bank[3]. Later in his career, he played for Khadamat Al-Shati in Gaza, where he spent most of his time[3]. Al-Obeid's exceptional talent earned him the title of a national player, scoring more than 100 goals throughout his career[3].
Al-Obeid's death has left a profound impact on the Palestinian football community, sparking mourning and highlighting the risks faced by civilians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict[1][2]. UEFA has publicly honoured al-Obeid, recognising his contributions to Palestinian football[1]. The loss of Suleiman al-Obeid is seen as a significant blow to sports in Palestine, where he was a prominent figure.
Suleiman al-Obeid was a family man, married with five children[4]. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, the PFA reports that 321 people from the football community have been killed[5]. The circumstances of al-Obeid's death were an Israeli attack.
[1] "UEFA pays tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid." BBC News, 8 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.com/sport/football/58159902
[2] "Suleiman al-Obeid: Palestinian football hero killed in Israeli attack." Al Jazeera, 8 Aug. 2025, www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/8/suleiman-al-obeid-palestinian-football-hero-killed-in-israeli-attack
[3] "Suleiman al-Obeid." Wikipedia, 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suleiman_al-Obeid
[4] "Suleiman al-Obeid: Palestinian football hero killed in Israeli attack." Al Jazeera, 8 Aug. 2025, www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/8/suleiman-al-obeid-palestinian-football-hero-killed-in-israeli-attack
[5] "PFA: 321 football community members killed in Gaza war." Middle East Eye, 15 Aug. 2025, www.middleeasteye.net/news/pfa-321-football-community-members-killed-gaza-war
- The tragic death of Suleiman al-Obeid, a renowned figure in both the general-news category and the crime-and-justice sector due to his untimely demise during an Israeli attack, has been extensively covered in sports media, as he was a prominent figure in Palestinian football.
- In addition to his illustrious football career, Suleiman al-Obeid, the Palestinian Pelé, was a family man with five children, making his death a significant event not only in the sports world but also in the sphere of general-news and crime-and-justice, highlighting the risks faced by civilians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
