A top Palestinian aid official, Mohamed al-Wahidi, was killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza on Tuesday, just moments before a scheduled public screening of the World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina. Al-Wahidi, who worked for the Egyptian Committee in Gaza—the relief arm of the Egyptian government—was instrumental in organizing these matches to provide a brief moment of respite for residents in the enclave.
The strike occurred at dusk in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, hitting the vehicle in which al-Wahidi was traveling. According to Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, the director of Shifa Hospital, the attack also killed three other individuals: 33-year-old driver Ahmed Daghmush and two young brothers, 10-year-old Hamza al-Deri and 8-year-old Fari. While the Israeli military stated that the operation was aimed at a Hamas militant and that they are investigating whether Daghmush was the intended target, Dr. Abu Selmiya identified Daghmush as a taxi driver with no known affiliations to militant groups. The military added that al-Wahidi was not a specific target of the strike and reiterated that it regrets harm to civilians.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict, which has persisted despite a ceasefire reached last October. Since that time, local health officials report that Israeli attacks have claimed 1,084 lives. On Wednesday alone, nine people were killed across Gaza, including two children and a truck driver who was shot at a roadblock along the Israeli-controlled Philadelphi Corridor. The military claimed the driver was shot after running toward troops, while another man was killed by a drone strike in Gaza City.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, has left a total Palestinian death toll of 73,110, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. While the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants, it notes that women and children account for roughly half of the casualties. Five Israeli soldiers have also been killed since the October ceasefire.
The public screenings of World Cup matches have gained significant popularity in Gaza, particularly for Egypt’s games. Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan has frequently used his platform to highlight the plight of Palestinians, including waving a Palestinian flag after a victory against Australia. In a briefing prior to the match against Argentina, Hassan appealed to the global community, stating, “I urge all media officers, all athletes worldwide, regardless of their identities, maybe we can convey a collective message that is as follows, let the Palestinian people be, let them exist, let them live a life of their own.”
Palestinian women mourn over the body of 10-year-old Amir Shaaban, who was killed in an Israeli military strike, before his funeral at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians watch a live broadcast of the World Cup soccer match between Egypt and Iran on a screen in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
