Palestinian goalkeeper Saleem Khader Al-Ashqar, 32, who played for Khadamat Khan Younis, was reportedly killed on Monday after being shot by Israeli forces in Al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian Football Association and WAFA. He previously represented Al-Aqsa and Al-Musaddar sports clubs.
His death raises the reported number of Palestinian sports community members killed since October 2023 to 1,009, including 567 football-related figures. The incident occurred while the 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
