Israel kills Palestinian athlete as he looks for aid in southern Gaza
Israel kills Palestinian athlete as he looks for aid in southern Gaza
Palestinian international athlete Allam Abdullah al-Amour was killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday morning close to a US-backed aid centre near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The runner, who won a bronze medal in the 3,000-metres event at the West Asia Championships in 2023, was trying to seek humanitarian relief.
The Palestinian Athletics Federation announced al-Amour's killing in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing: "With deep sorrow and grief, the Palestinian Athletics Federation mourns the young runner, Allam al-Amour, who has ascended to his Lord as a martyr."
According to the federation, the young athlete was killed by Israeli shelling as he was collecting food aid for his family, amid the Israeli-manufactured famine in the besieged enclave, which has led to the deaths of 317 Palestinians from starvation and malnutrition.
"He never expected that his end would be a bullet to the head, instead of carrying food to feed his family," the post read.
"This was Allam's last race, not on a running track, but a painful race towards the afterlife, leaving behind a touching story and fond memories in the hearts of his fans and everyone who heard about his determination and excellence."
The running champion had represented Palestine in world competitions, including the West Asian Championships in Qatar.
According to family members speaking to Anadolu Agency, al-Amour "was martyred by Israeli army gunfire near what are known as American aid centres".
The Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) relief distribution sites have been largely condemned by international organisations and rights activists as "death traps".
At least 2,158 people have been killed while seeking aid since 27 May, most of whom were killed near GHF sites, according to Palestinian health ministry figures released on Wednesday.
Though the GHF has said it only uses pepper spray or fires warning shots to control crowds, testimonies presented by international medical organisation MSF show that attacks on civilians have been both "indiscriminate and targeted".
'Unprecendented catastrophe'
Al-Amour's killing as an athelete during aid runs is not the first death of a Palestinian sports champion seeking aid.
Palestinian national basketball player Mohammed Shaalan was killed last week while he was attempting to secure food and medicine for his sick daughter, Maryam, and the rest of his family.
In mid-August, a former Palestinian national team runner, Sufyan Hamdan, who participated in the Asian Athletics Championships, was also killed after he was wounded by Israeli fire while seeking aid.
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub said on Tuesday that Palestinian sport is experiencing an "unprecedented catastrophe" after losing 774 sportspeople over the course of Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Rajoub said the number included 355 football players, 277 from sports federations, and 142 from the Palestinian Scouts, in addition to 119 missing persons.
Rajoub added that 288 sports facilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been completely or partially destroyed.
Israel's genocide has left nearly 63,000 Palestinians confirmed dead since 7 October 2023, while thousands more are missing and presumed dead.
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