Israel killed the ‘Palestinian Pele’ and his dream of a new football era in Gaza

During a footballing career spanning decades, Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid played 24 times for the Palestinian national team and earned the accolade the “Palestinian Pele” for a style that resembled the Brazilian legend.

For all his achievements on the pitch, his life ended on Friday, like hundreds of fellow Palestinians in Gaza, when he was killed by the Israeli army while collecting aid for his family from a US and Israel-backed aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Obeid had joined crowds of aid seekers after months of siege and Israeli-imposed starvation, and saw no other way of feeding his family.

According to witnesses, an Israeli quadcopter dropped a munition on him at the site, killing him instantly.

Read more: Israel killed the ‘Palestinian Pele’ and his dream of a new football era in Gaza