Grief in Gaza as World Cup screenings organiser killed in Israeli strike
Palestinian aid worker Mohammed al-Wahidi, who organised public screenings of World Cup matches in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, sparking an outpouring of mourning.
The killing of Mohammed al-Wahidi, a 65-year-old Palestinian humanitarian worker, in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday has triggered widespread grief across the Gaza Strip. Social media was flooded with photos and videos of his work and hundreds of condolences from people who encountered him at aid distributions or in displacement camps.
Al-Wahidi was travelling in a taxi through the Sabra neighbourhood when an Israeli missile struck the vehicle. He was killed along with three others, including two brothers aged 8 and 10 who were passing by. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas operative and was aware of reports of civilian casualties.
Before the war, al-Wahidi was an English teacher. After the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, he became a senior official with the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza, an organisation deeply involved in humanitarian efforts. For over two and a half years, he coordinated emergency food aid, oversaw the establishment of camps for displaced families, and delivered assistance to communities affected by repeated displacement.
Many Gazans recall him as a familiar figure in shelters, preferring to work in the field rather than from an office. In recent weeks, he gained wider recognition for organising public screenings of World Cup matches in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and the al-Mawasi area. Egypt's matches attracted large crowds, reflecting the strong cultural ties between Palestinians and Egyptians.
Al-Wahidi was killed just hours before Egypt's round-of-16 match against Argentina, deepening the sense of loss. "He was not simply an aid worker," wrote activist Mohammed Hmeid. "He was a door to hope that opened every day for displaced people and those who had lost everything."
According to the UN, at least 593 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began, including eight since a ceasefire was agreed 10 months ago. The conflict started on 7 October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, at least 73,118 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
