Palestinian boy who wanted to be like Ronaldo, killed by Israel

Like children worldwide, Nazi al-Baba dreamed of becoming an international soccer star, “like Ronaldo.” However, his destiny took a tragic turn. At just 14 years old, Nazi was tall, always smiling, and known for his gentle and calm nature. His family remembers him as a compassionate and helpful boy. Football was his passion, and he spent hours practicing at a sports club in Halhul, a town north of Hebron. After school, Nazi often played football with neighborhood friends. Tragically, a month ago, while doing what he loved most—playing football—he was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. November 3, the day of his death, began like any other. According to his father, Nidal Abdel Moti al-Baba, Nazi, the fifth of six siblings, briefly returned home around 3 p.m. before heading out to play again. That was the last time his family saw him alive. A forensic medical report revealed that Nazi had been shot four times—in the pelvis, leg, heart, and shoulder. The report also noted that he was left untreated for 30 minutes after being shot.