The Palestinian football federation has confirmed the tragic death of former national team member Mohammed Barakat in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The 39-year-old Barakat was reportedly killed in a strike on a residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis on Monday.
Barakat, affectionately known as 'the lion' by his fellow players, had a distinguished career playing for the national team and various clubs in Gaza, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. He made his professional debut in 2015 with Shabab Khanyounis, where he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first player in Gaza to score 100 goals with a single team.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of over 31,000 Palestinian lives. The Palestinian Football Association has reported that among the casualties are 158 athletes, including 91 soccer players from different divisions.
The conflict escalated when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the capture of around 250 hostages.
