Suleiman Obeid, widely regarded as one of Palestine’s most gifted footballers of the 2000s and 2010s, was tragically killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday while attempting to secure humanitarian aid in Gaza.
At the time of his death, the 43-year-old footballer was still active in the game, having played competitively as recently as October 2023. Known for his explosive pace and attacking brilliance, Obeid made a name for himself with Shabab Al-Am'ary in the West Bank Premier League before returning to Gaza, where he achieved remarkable success — winning three consecutive Golden Boot awards.
Between 2007 and 2013, he represented the Palestinian national team 23 times, officially earning 21 caps and scoring two goals. A defining moment in his international career came when he captained Palestine during the 2013 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers — a campaign that played a pivotal role in helping Palestine qualify for their first-ever AFC Asian Cup in 2015.
Obeid’s death marks the third killing of a former Palestinian national team player by Israeli forces since the war on Gaza began in October 2023, following the deaths of Mouyin Al-Maghribi and Mohammed Barakat. With fewer than 250 players having ever been capped for the Palestinian national team, the loss of over 1% of that group in less than two years is a heartbreaking statistic.
According to reports, Obeid is one of more than 400 Palestinian footballers who have been killed since the current escalation began 669 days ago. His death has sparked global outrage, with football legend Eric Cantona publicly condemning the killings and joining the growing chorus of voices questioning the silence of international institutions that once championed human rights in sport.
Suleiman Obeid will be remembered not just for his skill and accomplishments on the field, but for his leadership, deep commitment to his local club Khadamat Al-Shate', and the unwavering smile he carried throughout a life marked by resilience and conflict.
