Mourners pay tribute to slain Palestinian soccer star in Gaza commemoration
Suleiman al-Obeid, a footballer revered in Gaza and often compared to Brazilian legend Pelé, tragically lost his life this week in an Israeli attack. The 41-year-old was killed while waiting for food aid in Gaza City.
Al-Obeid was a striker for the Gaza club, Al-Shati, and his skills and goalscoring abilities earned him a prominent place in Palestinian football history. His wife, Doaa al-Obeid, and their five children are now mourning his death.
Doaa keeps a memento of Suleiman - the blue-and-white number 10 shorts that he wore for Al-Shati. The family currently resides in a tent among the ruins of a neighborhood in Gaza City, their home having been destroyed in a bombardment earlier this year.
The circumstances of Suleiman's death were due to an Israeli tank shell. He was killed while queuing to collect food in southern Gaza. The news of his death has sparked widespread sorrow and condemnation, with many questioning the circumstances of his death.
Mohamed Salah, a Liverpool forward, has criticized a tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid by UEFA this week, as it did not mention the cause of his death. Salah took to social media, writing, "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?"
Suleiman al-Obeid's dreams of continuing to play football until he was 50 were tragically cut short. His death serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and the impact it has on innocent lives.
Our thoughts are with Doaa al-Obeid and her family during this difficult time. May Suleiman al-Obeid's memory live on in the hearts of those he inspired on the football field and beyond.
The annals of Palestinian football history remember Suleiman al-Obeid as a talented striker for Al-Shati, whose goalscoring abilities and sportsmanship earned him a place akin to Pelé in Gaza. Despite his tragic death in an Israeli attack while queuing to collect food in Gaza City, Suleiman's legacy in European football leagues, particularly the Champions League, is undeniable, given sports analysis and comparisons to football greats like Pelé.
