Palestinian Footballer Killed in Gaza Air Strike Alongside Family

 Muhammad Khalifa, a 20-year-old Palestinian footballer who once visited Ireland and met President Michael D. Higgins, has been killed in an Israeli air strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza. Khalifa, a member of the Palestinian national youth football team, died alongside his brother Mahmoud (18), their mother, and five other members of their family when a bomb struck their home on Tuesday.

President Higgins expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, recalling his meeting with the young Palestinian players during their visit to Ireland. “I have the warmest of memories of meeting Muhammad and the other young players. They later shared how much their time in Ireland meant to them and how keen they were to maintain connections with the soccer community here,” the President said.

He also issued a call to the international community, condemning the destruction wrought on civilian areas in Gaza. “To allege that a refugee camp may contain a terrorist cannot justify the demolition of entire homes and the loss of innocent lives, including a young person and his family,” he stated.

A Bright Young Talent

Khalifa visited Ireland in 2016 and 2017 as part of a cultural exchange organized by Gaza Action Ireland. During his trips, he played against League of Ireland teams and formed the guard of honour at high-profile matches, including a Galway United vs. Dundalk fixture attended by President Higgins.

Zoe Lawlor, chair of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, remembered Khalifa fondly as a talented footballer full of joy and energy. “We had such a wonderful time with them during their visits. They absolutely loved Ireland,” she said.

The initiative, dubbed Gaza Kids to Tallaght, also brought Khalifa and his teammates to a Shamrock Rovers vs. Derry City match in 2017, where President Higgins specifically requested to meet them. “We had a big gathering with the kids and their coaches. It was a truly lovely experience,” Ms. Lawlor added.

A Devastating Loss

News of Khalifa’s death reached Ms. Lawlor through multiple sources on Wednesday and was later confirmed by his football club, Al-Hilal. She described the scale of loss in Gaza as staggering, noting that 60 Palestinians are being killed daily in the ongoing conflict.

Ms. Lawlor highlighted that 1,400 Palestinian families have been entirely wiped out, while over 3,000 individuals are now the sole surviving members of their families. “The devastation and scale of loss are simply unimaginable,” she said.

The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the human toll of the conflict, with voices like Khalifa’s silenced amid the violence.