Story: Suleiman al-Obeid of Palestinian football hopes to continue playing until he is 50 years old, but Israeli Tank Shell shatters his dream ten years ahead of schedule.
Shell killed the 41-year-old in southern Gaza this week, who killed him while waiting in line to collect food.
His legacy, doaa al-Obeid, called it a lifelong shock.
She clutched the 10-shorts he wore for Gaza club al-Shati, calling it “the most precious thing he left behind.”
It was one of her only souvenirs to her late husband…many of his property was destroyed in the attack on their home earlier this year.
But despite the hardships, Doa said Obed had been playing.
“He used to go to train every day, never stop, not a day. Even in the war crisis, in rockets, shelling and mass killings, he would go to play. He used to gather his friends and loved ones and play with them.”
Obeid became more famous this week, without mentioning the cause of death after Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah criticized the tribute of European football clubs for dominating football.
“After preliminary review, we did not find any records of events involving Suleiman al-Obeid. For closer inspection, we need more details,” an Israeli military spokesperson said in response to Salah’s post on X.
The Palestinian Football Association said Obi was killed in an attack by the Israeli military in southern Gaza while waiting to collect aid at the distribution point. His family said it was a tank shell that killed him.
Palestinian football fans say they will focus on Obeid’s legacy, not his death.
The fan and barber said the children called him “Henry” in their comparison with the great French Thierry Henry and “Palestine Bailey”.
Obeid’s 17-year-old daughter said he “loved the name Pele”.
