Israel Says 12 Gaza Football Figures Killed in Conflict Were Militants
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military accused 12 Palestinian football figures, including a FIFA-registered referee, that it killed during the war in Gaza of being members of militant groups.
The military said it was releasing the names to counter what it described as “false claims” that Israel had deliberately targeted members of Gaza’s football community. It said several of those named held command positions within Hamas and Islamic Jihad, while others served as combat operatives.
Among those identified was Mohammed Sami Mohammed Khattab, a FIFA international assistant referee. “Mohammed Sami Mohammed Khattab was presented as an innocent soccer player, but in reality was a terrorist in Islamic Jihad’s Central Camps Brigade,” the military said. It released three photographs of Khattab, including one of him holding a gun.
At least two of the 12 identified men had participated in the October 7 attacks on Israel, the military said.
A Palestinian Football Association official in Gaza rejected the allegations. “Israel is trying to cover up its crimes of killing players, coaches, referees, and administrators in football clubs with false accusations,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
Throughout the war, Palestinian football authorities have accused Israel of killing football players and damaging Gaza’s sporting infrastructure. Israel has consistently maintained that it targets militants and military infrastructure while accusing Hamas of operating within civilian areas. AFP was unable to independently verify the military’s accusations.
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