Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Kamal Abdel-Malek murdered by Israel

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Various Sources

According to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel‑Malek, a 20‑year‑old goalkeeper for Gaza Sports Club, was murdered on Tuesday in an Israeli strike on the Sabra/Al‑Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City. It appears he was targeted.

Abdel‑Malek was the captain and first‑team goalkeeper of Gaza Sports Club. He had recently played in the Thousand Martyrs Cup final, a tournament held across Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

The PFA states that his death brings the number of sports figures killed in Gaza to 1,017 since October 2023. Reports also highlight extensive damage to Gaza’s sports infrastructure, including stadiums, clubs, and training facilities. More than 50 of Gaza’s 56 sports clubs and around 20 five-a-side football fields, developed by the PFA with FIFA support, have been destroyed by Israel.

The incident has underscored FIFA's lack of action regarding Israel, despite its numerous violations of the global football organization's anti-discrimination regulations.

Abdel‑Malek’s death occurred days after another young footballer, 15‑year‑old Mohammad Nidal Barbak, was killed while playing football in Khan Younis.