Former Palestine National Basketball Team Player Martyred in Israeli Attack

IQNA – In its attacks on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the Israeli army targeted and killed Mohammed Shaalan, one of Gaza’s sports stars.

Shaalan, who was martyred in the Israeli regime’s strikes in Khan Yunis, was a former player on the Palestinian national basketball team.

The occupying forces opened fire on Shaalan and killed him while he was trying to receive humanitarian aid to save his children from starvation..

Shaalan had to struggle constantly to find medicine and food for his sick daughter Maryam, who suffers from kidney failure and severe blood poisoning. He had repeatedly asked for help to treat her daughter.

Shaalan played for various local teams, including Al-Bureij, Al-Maghazi, Khan Yunis, Al-Shati, Gaza, Christian Youth Association, and Jabalia, and was a member of the Palestinian national basketball team.

With his martyrdom, the number of Palestinian athletes martyred since the start of the Israeli regime’s genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023 has reached approximately 670.

Suleiman al-Obaid, known as “Pele of Palestine”, was also martyred earlier this month while trying to provide food for his children in Gaza.

His murder by Israeli forces drew global reactions. The European Football Association (UEFA) expressed condolences for his martyrdom, and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s Egyptian player, called for clarification of the details of his murder.

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