close
Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah has hit out at UEFA for their post about the passing of Palestinian football legend Suleiman Al-Obeid. The forward asked questions of their social media post to announce Al-Obeid's death whilst he sought aid in his native Gaza.
Egypt international Salah became the first high-profile footballer to question the post from European football's governing body, asking the question on X. He challenged their tribute to the 'Palestinian Pele', asking that the details of his death be made public, as well.
Suleiman Al-Obeid was a forward who played professionally for clubs in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as the Palestinian national team. The 41-year-old had gone out to look for aid for himself and his family in Southern Gaza amid the ongoing blockade from Israel when he met his end on August 6th.
According to the Palestinian Football Association, Israeli forces shot Al-Obeid as he waited for the arrival of aid, which is usually dropped from planes flying overhead. He becomes the latest football-related figure to die in the ongoing conflict in Gaza since October 2023, taking the count up to 321.
Suleiman Al-Obeid leaves five children and a wife in the ongoing crisis in Gaza as humanitarian aid continues to be restricted in the region. The UN has reported that over 1,300 people have been killed in their attempts to get food in the region in the last three months.
Suleiman Al-Obeid: The Palestinian Pele
Suleiman Al-Obeid was born on March 24th 1984 in Gaza and featured for Khadamat Al-Shati at the start of his professional career. He was with the club between 2007 and 2009, before he left to join Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari. He remained with them for four years until 2013.
Al-Obeid returned to his boyhood club for one year before moving to Gaza Sport in 2014. He was there for two years before he returned for a third spell at Khadamat Al-Shati. He remained with them until his retirement in 2023 and ended his career with more than 100 goals scored, a rare feat in Palestine.
Al-Obeid played in 19 official games in the colours of Palestine and scored two goals for his country. His first goal was a spectacular acrobatic effort in a match at the 2010 West Asian Football Federation Championship against Yemen. His strike in the game helped his side pull one back while they were 2-0 down. He scored another in a friendly match one year later.
Why did you not like this content?
Cancel Submit
Was this article helpful?
like selected
avatar selected
Thank You for feedback
About the author
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,
Sulayman Salahudeen
Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.
Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.
Know More
More from Sportskeeda
Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen