Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian aid worker who organized World Cup match screenings in Gaza, was killed by an Israeli missile strike on Tuesday evening, just before the Egypt-Argentina World Cup match. The attack in Gaza City also killed two brothers, aged eight and ten, and another man.
Details of the strike
Al-Wahidi, 57, director of the Egyptian Committee in Gaza, had worked on aid and development projects for years and recently arranged World Cup screenings across the Gaza Strip, providing a diversion amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing Israeli strikes. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that al-Wahidi was not the intended target, but the missile was aimed at a "terrorist in Hamas' military wing."
The attack occurred in the Sabra district about an hour before the match. Al-Wahidi was in a taxi heading to a screening in Tel al-Hawa when a missile hit his car. His driver survived, but at least three others on the street were killed, including brothers Fari and Hamza al-Deri, who were returning from playing football.
Witness accounts
Al-Wahidi's cousin, Abd Alkhaleq al-Wahidi, said: "We were gathered at a family event when we heard an explosion and were told that a car had been hit on al-Maghribi Street. When I arrived, medical crews had already recovered the bodies of a child and an unidentified man, while another young man was lying on the ground with injuries." He added that Mohamed was "widely loved" and known for helping people and supporting families in need.
The fourth victim, Ahmed Daghmush, 30, was hit by shrapnel while in a relative's house near the blast. His cousin, Ashour, said: "A piece of shrapnel struck him in the back and pierced his lungs. He didn't realize he was seriously injured at first, but when he noticed the bleeding, people rushed him to the hospital, where he died shortly after."
Military response and broader context
An IDF spokesperson said: "Yesterday, the IDF struck a terrorist in Hamas' military wing while he was traveling in a vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF is aware of the claim that uninvolved civilians were harmed as a result of the strike. The incident is under review." The spokesperson had no further comment on whether the intended target was killed or injured.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire in October, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 3,500 wounded by Israeli military action. The Israeli army occupies over 60% of the Gaza Strip, with no significant reconstruction allowed, leaving infrastructure and services in ruins. A UN commission of inquiry reported last month that Palestinian children were deliberately targeted and killed during the war, including after the ceasefire. The overall Palestinian death toll since October 2023 exceeds 73,000.
