Palestinian Goalkeeper Saleem Al-Ashqar Passes Away After Incident in Gaza

Palestinian footballer Saleem Al-Ashqar has died following an incident in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA).

The PFA said the goalkeeper was riding a bicycle to refill a gas cylinder for his family when the area reportedly came under heavy Israeli military fire. During the incident, he was struck by a bullet that caused severe injuries to his abdomen.

He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors discovered extensive internal injuries affecting several vital organs, including his liver, stomach, intestines and pancreas. Despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life, Al-Ashqar died a few hours after arriving at the medical facility.

Officials from the PFA said the limited resources available in Gaza's hospitals, including shortages of medical equipment, electricity and healthcare workers, made treating such critical injuries extremely difficult.

Al-Ashqar represented several clubs during his football career, including Khadamat Khan Younis, Al-Aqsa and Al-Masdar, earning recognition as one of the goalkeepers in Palestinian domestic football.

His death has added to the growing number of Palestinian athletes who have lost their lives since the conflict in Gaza escalated.

The Palestinian Football Association said more than 1,000 sportsmen and women have died during the war, with footballers accounting for more than half of that figure.

The goalkeeper is survived by his wife, whom he married just five months ago. The couple were expecting their first child. He also leaves behind his seven sisters and was the only son in his family.

His passing has drawn condolences from members of the Palestinian football community, who described him as a dedicated athlete whose life and career ended far too soon amid the ongoing conflict.