An Israeli airstrike in Gaza shortly before the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match between Egypt and Argentina killed a Palestinian aid official who had helped organise public screenings of the game across the enclave, news agency Associated Press reported.The strike came just before what was expected to be a major occasion for football fans in Gaza, where many had gathered to watch Egypt face defending champions Argentina.The strike hit a car in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City at dusk on Tuesday, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, was quoted as saying by news agency APThose killed were Mohamed al-Wahidi, an official with the Egyptian Committee in Gaza, 10-year-old Hamza al-Deri, his eight-year-old brother Fari al-Deri, and the car’s driver, 33-year-old Ahmed Daghmush.The Israeli military said al-Wahidi was not the intended target. It said the strike was aimed at a Hamas militant and that it was investigating whether Daghmush was the intended target.Abu Selmiya said Daghmush was a taxi driver and was not known to have any links to any militant group.The Israeli military also said another strike had hit the same street around 30 minutes earlier but caused no casualties.The Egyptian Committee, where al-Wahidi worked, is the relief arm of the Egyptian government. It provides food, shelter and other assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. The committee had also organised public screenings of World Cup matches across the territory.Support for Egypt’s football team has grown in Gaza during the tournament. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has repeatedly spoken about the situation of Palestinians, dedicating his team’s win over Australia to both Egyptians and Palestinians and waving a Palestinian flag after the match.Ahead of Tuesday’s game against Argentina, Hassan again called for international support for Palestinians.“I urge you, I urge all media officers, all athletes worldwide, regardless of their identities, maybe we can convey a collective message that is as follows, let the Palestinian people be, let them exist, let them live a life of their own,” he said.The Gaza health ministry says the death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has reached 73,098. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led government, does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its count, but says women and children make up around half of those killed.The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.
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