Rania R.a. Abushamala
02 July 2026•Update: 03 July 2026
Palestinian goalkeeper Salim Khader Al-Ashqar was killed by Israeli fire while trying to secure a cooking gas cylinder for his family in southern Gaza, becoming the latest athlete killed in Israel’s war on the enclave.
Ashqar, 32, who plays for Khadamat Khan Younis Club, did not leave home in search of a football match or tournament, but to obtain cooking gas for his small family as his wife awaits their first child.
His journey on a motorcycle through the al-Qarara area, northeast of Khan Younis, ended with Israeli gunfire, adding his name to the growing list of Palestinian athletes killed since the war began on Oct. 8, 2023.
A medical source told Anadolu that Ashqar died Tuesday from wounds sustained after Israeli forces opened fire while he was passing through the area.
Searching for cooking gas
Residents of Gaza continue to suffer from severe shortages of cooking gas due to Israeli restrictions on supplies entering the enclave. Limited quantities arrive through a small number of trucks, falling far short of demand.
Many Palestinians are forced to travel long distances to obtain gas cylinders from distributors across Gaza, while others rely on firewood, plastic, and paper for cooking despite the serious health risks.
Mustafa Siam, secretary-general of the Palestinian Sports Media Union, said Ashqar was heading to al-Qarara “in an attempt to secure gas for his family” when Israeli tanks stationed in the area opened fire directly at him.
Siam told Anadolu that Ashqar suffered critical injuries and was taken to a hospital, but severe shortages of medical resources, blood units, and urgent surgical intervention prevented doctors from saving his life.
Family tragedy
Siam said Ashqar leaves behind a pregnant wife awaiting their first child.
He was also the only son of his parents among seven sisters, deepening the tragedy for his family.
On Tuesday, the Palestine Football Association mourned Ashqar, saying he had represented several clubs in Gaza, including Khadamat Khan Younis, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Masdar, and was known as one of the strip’s prominent goalkeepers in local tournaments.
With Ashqar’s death, the number of Palestinian sports figures killed since the war began has risen to 1,009, including 567 members of the football community, players, coaches, referees, and administrators, according to Siam.
He said the figure reflects the “heavy losses suffered by the Palestinian sports sector,” alongside the destruction of numerous stadiums and sports facilities during the war.
Mounting losses
Siam said Palestinian athletes are “paying the price of war like all other civilians.”
He criticized what he described as “international silence” over the targeting of Palestinian sports figures.
Siam said international sports bodies, including FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, “have not taken practical steps to stop violations against the Palestinian sports community.”
He called on those institutions to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting athletes and sports facilities in line with international conventions.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025, Israeli violations through continued strikes and blockade have persisted, worsening Gaza’s humanitarian and health crisis.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli violations of the ceasefire had killed 1,059 Palestinians and injured 3,429 others as of Thursday.
More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 173,000 injured since the start of Israeli genocide in Gaza, with widespread destruction affecting 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure, according to official Gaza data.
*Writing by Rania Abushamala in Istanbul
