A Palestinian goalkeeper has been killed in Gaza, as the athlete death toll tops 1,000.
32-year-old Saleem Al-Ashqar, a Palestinian goalkeeper, died on Monday after being shot by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in Al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, according to WAFA.
Al-Ashqar also played for Al-Aqsa and Al-Musaddar Sport Clubs during his football career.
WAFA reported that the footballer had been married for just five months and was expecting the birth of his first child.
According to Al Jazeera, the Palestinian Football Association confirmed that over 1,000 Palestinian athletes have been killed since October 2023.
In the wake of the tragic news, an outpouring of grief from relatives, teammates, and the wider Palestinian sporting world has occurred.
The Chilean football club Deportivo Palestino released a statement to social media, they said: "We deeply mourn the tragic death of 32-year-old Palestinian goalkeeper Salim Al-Ashqar. He was killed by the Israeli army. We are deeply saddened by the continuation of such events. We call for justice and peace."
In Gaza, more than 1,000 athletes have been killed due to the ongoing conflict. According to a recent report, nearly 300 sports facilities have been destroyed over the past two years.
Supporters from Turkey, Morocco, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other nations have displayed Palestinian flags and chanted slogans at the 2026 Fifa World Cup demanding freedom for Gaza.
