Palestinians mourn Gaza World Cup screenings organiser killed in Israeli strike

The inaugural event aimed to connect families, especially children, offering a brief respite from the realities of war. Egypt's matches drew large crowds, reflecting the long‑standing popularity of the team among many Palestinians in Gaza who have long shared cultural, emotional, and political ties with their neighbours. Videos showed children and families gathering around huge screens amid ruined buildings, widely shared online, offering rare scenes of celebration amid the conflict. Al‑Wahidi was killed just hours before one of those screenings, Egypt's past round‑of‑16 match against Argentina, deepening the sense of loss among many Palestinians. "He was not simply an assistance idiosyncratic successful a humanitarian committee," wrote activistic Mohammed Hmeid, who documented al-Wahidi's work. "He was a doorway to anticipation that opened each time for displaced radical and those who had mislaid everything." "Everyone who knew him speaks of his kindness, integrity and generosity," helium added. "In Gaza, adjacent those who dedicate their lives to helping others are not spared. But bully deeds cannot beryllium killed. They unrecorded connected successful the hearts of the people." Al‑Wahidi's death comes as humanitarian workers in Gaza continue to face significant risks. As of late April, the UN had recorded the killing of at least 593 of them since the war began, including eight since Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire ten months ago. The Israeli military launched an operation in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas‑led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. At least 73,118 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas‑run health ministry, whose figures are regarded as reliable by the UN.