Israeli military operations have killed 785 Palestinian athletes and sports officials in Gaza and the West Bank since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Football Association.
Deputy head of the association, Susan Shalabi, told Anadolu that the victims include both players and administrative staff from a range of sports, with the overwhelming majority killed in Gaza and 23 in the occupied West Bank, reports Middle East Monitor.
Of the total casualties, 437 were football players, including 15 from the West Bank, Shalabi said. She added that the association has been compiling the data based on player registration records and reports from its Gaza branch.
However, she emphasized that “the toll is likely higher due to missing persons under rubble and restricted access to many affected areas as a result of Israeli airstrikes and the ongoing blockade.”
Shalabi also noted that Israeli military actions have completely or partially destroyed 288 sports facilities, including stadiums, gyms, and club buildings—21 of which were located in the occupied West Bank. She called for protection of Palestinian athletes and sports venues, and urged an end to “Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian sports.”
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military has killed at least 56,000 Palestinians in Gaza since the start of its offensive in October 2023, according to Palestinian authorities.
In the same period, attacks by Israeli forces and illegal settlers have also claimed the lives of at least 986 Palestinians in the West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.
In response to the ongoing violence, the International Criminal Court in November issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.
Israel is also currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its conduct in the enclave.
