Ashour added.
A Palestinian aid worker who facilitated World Cup match screenings in Gaza was tragically killed by an Israeli missile strike shortly before the highly anticipated game between Egypt and Argentina on Tuesday evening.
In addition to the aid worker, two brothers aged eight and ten, along with another man who was nearby, lost their lives in the attack.
Mohamed al-Wahidi, 57, served as the director of the Egyptian Committee in Gaza and dedicated many years to aid and development initiatives within the Palestinian territory. Recently, he had been instrumental in organizing screenings of World Cup matches throughout Gaza, which provided a much-needed distraction from the ongoing turmoil, including the sporadic ceasefire violations, frequent Israeli strikes, and severe humanitarian aid restrictions.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, asserting that al-Wahidi was not the intended target, as the missile was aimed at a “terrorist in Hamas’ military wing”
The attack occurred in the Sabra district of Gaza City approximately one hour before the match kickoff. Al-Wahidi had played a key role in making the game accessible to residents, who gathered in large numbers to cheer for Egypt. According to family members, he was en route to a screening in Tel al-Hawa in southern Gaza City when the missile struck his vehicle.
Reports indicate that his driver survived the incident, but at least three other individuals nearby were killed, including the brothers Fari and Hamza al-Deri, who were returning home from a football game.
“We were gathered at a family event when we heard an explosion and were told that a car had been hit on al-Maghribi Street,” said Abd Alkhaleq al-Wahidi, Mohamed’s cousin. “When I arrived, medical crews had already recovered the bodies of a child and an unidentified man, while another young man was lying on the ground with injuries. Someone at the scene told me that one of my relatives had been critically injured and might have died. “The first moments after learning of Mohamed’s death were extremely difficult,”
“He was widely loved and had a strong presence at family and community gatherings. He was known for his public speaking skills and was often chosen to speak at local events. He was known for helping people and supporting families in need.” he continued. “A piece of shrapnel struck him in the back and pierced his lungs. At first, he didn’t realise he had been seriously injured, but when he noticed the bleeding, people rushed him to the hospital, where he died of his wounds a short time later. “He was a kind and respectful young man who worked hard to provide for his family. He loved joking and laughing with everyone and was well-liked by his relatives and neighbours.”
The fourth victim of the missile strike was 30-year-old Ahmed Daghmush, who was in a relative’s house nearby when he was struck by shrapnel.
His cousin Ashour recounted, “Yesterday, the IDF struck a terrorist in Hamas’ military wing while he was traveling in a vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip,”
“The IDF is aware of the claim that uninvolved civilians were harmed as a result of the strike. The incident is under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and takes all feasible measures to mitigate such harm.”
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated that al-Wahidi was not the target of the strike.
“Yesterday, the IDF struck a terrorist in Hamas’ military wing while he was traveling in a vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip,” the spokesperson stated. “The IDF is aware of claims that uninvolved civilians were harmed as a result of the strike. The incident is under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and takes all feasible measures to mitigate such harm.”
The spokesperson provided no additional information regarding whether the intended target was killed or injured.
Since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was established in October, over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly died due to Israeli military actions, with nearly 3,500 more injured. The Israeli army continues to occupy more than 60% of the Gaza Strip, and significant reconstruction efforts remain stalled, leaving civilian infrastructure and essential services in disarray.
A recent report from a UN independent commission of inquiry indicated that Palestinian children were intentionally targeted and killed by Israeli forces during the conflict, including in the aftermath of the ceasefire. The overall Palestinian death toll since the onset of the war in October 2023 has surpassed 73,000.
