Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip): An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday killed a Palestinian aid official who helped organise public screenings of the FIFA World Cup, just hours before Egypt's Round of 16 match against Argentina.
According to local health officials, the strike hit a car in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City at dusk, killing four people, including Mohamed al-Wahidi, an official with the Egyptian Committee in Gaza.
The other victims were brothers Hamza al-Deri, 10, and Fari al-Deri, 8, who were passing by the area, and 33-year-old taxi driver Ahmed Daghmush. Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, confirmed that the hospital received the four bodies.
The Israeli military said al-Wahidi was not the intended target of the strike. It said the operation was aimed at a Hamas militant and that it was examining whether Daghmush had been the intended target.
Hospital officials said Daghmush was a taxi driver with no known affiliation to any militant group.
A separate Israeli strike hit the same street around 30 minutes earlier but caused no casualties.
The Egyptian Committee, which provides food, shelter and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, said al-Wahidi had also helped organise large public screenings of World Cup matches across the territory.
The incident came as many Palestinians prepared to watch Egypt face defending champions Argentina. Egypt has attracted widespread support in Gaza during the tournament, with coach Hossam Hassan repeatedly expressing solidarity with Palestinians. After Egypt's victory over Australia, Hassan dedicated the win to both Egyptians and Palestinians and waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch.
Ahead of the Argentina match, Hassan urged athletes and media worldwide to support the Palestinian people, saying they should be allowed "to exist" and "live a life of their own".
The Israeli military says it targets militant groups and regrets civilian casualties. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 1,027 people, including 258 children, have been killed since the October ceasefire came into effect. Israel says five of its soldiers have been killed during the same period.
The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its casualty figures.
