Saleem Khader al-Ashqar, a 32-year-old Palestinian goalkeeper, was shot and killed by Israeli forces last Monday in the town of al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, southern Gaza. He had left his home in search of cooking gas after a request from his pregnant wife and never returned.
His death is the latest blow to the Palestinian athletic community, with about 1,009 members killed since Israel's genocidal war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, according to the official Palestinian Football Association (PFA). Al-Ashqar is among 567 Palestinians killed in the football sector alone.
Al-Ashqar was the only son among six sisters and had recently celebrated his wedding on January 26, 2026. His uncle, Captain Farid Al-Ashqar, a PFA referees committee member, said: "He went out like any other young man, just trying to provide a gas cylinder for his wife and family, but the treacherous bullets of the occupation struck him." He accused FIFA and international federations of hypocrisy for their silence on Israeli attacks on Palestinian footballers.
From a young age, al-Ashqar was devoted to goalkeeping and dreamed of playing for the Palestinian national team. He played for local clubs including Al-Aqsa, Shabab Khan Younis, Al-Masdar, and Khadamat Khan Younis. During contract negotiations, he reportedly said: "I don't need money; I need to be a player who represents my homeland, my people, and the State of Palestine."
Abdulghani al-Sheikh, president of Khadamat Khan Younis, described the killing as a "shocking and harsh" blow. "Every martyr from the sports movement is a human story before becoming a statistical number," he said. Israel's campaign has destroyed sports infrastructure across Gaza, including the club's stadium.
Despite the war, Gaza's football community continues to play. The PFA has launched local tournaments on remaining pitches. Al-Sheikh pledged to continue al-Ashqar's legacy: "Our message today is not just about rebuilding the stone, but rebuilding the human. True loyalty to our martyrs is not just crying for them, but continuing to carry the message they believed in."
Source: www.aljazeera.com