Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has spoken out after the death of a Palestinian footballer who was compared to the legendary Pele.
Suleiman al-Obeid, a celebrated figure in Palestinian football, was killed on Thursday in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza while waiting for humanitarian aid, the Palestine Football Association confirmed.
Over a career spanning many years, the 41-year-old forward scored more than 100 goals and became one of Palestine’s most iconic players, earning the nickname “the Palestinian Pelé.”
Al-Obeid made 24 appearances for the national team, scoring twice, and was part of the squad during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Born in Gaza City, he was married and a father of five.
UEFA paid tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid on August 8, calling him “the ‘Palestinian Pelé’ — a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who has consistently spoken out on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, shared UEFA’s post on X to his 19 million followers, pointedly asking: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” He also posted a screenshot of the message to his Instagram account, where he has over 65 million followers.
Salah has previously used his platform to call for peace and humanitarian intervention in Gaza. In 2023, following an explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Arab Hospital that killed nearly 500 people, he urged world leaders to act. In a video statement at the time, Salah condemned the violence, described the massacres as “unpalatable to witness,” and called for the immediate delivery of food, water, and medical aid to those suffering in the territory.
The Palestine Football Association reports that 421 footballers in Gaza — including 103 children — have been killed or died from starvation, while 288 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed. According to the UN rights office, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,300 Palestinians attempting to collect food aid since late May.
