Palestine football legend Ahed Zaqout killed in his sleep by Israeli strike

Ahed Zaqout

According to news reports, Palestine midfielder and legend Ahed Zaqout was killed in Gaza after an Israeli bomb hit his home. He was 49.

Zaqout was in bed sleeping at the time on Wednesday when the Israeli shell hit his house.

A Gaza sports journalist told Reuters: “Palestine has lost one of its best players, he may have been the best midfielder we ever had.”

He joins a list of more than 1,000 victims who have been killed in the battle between the Israeli army and Palestine militant group Hamas. Why his neighbourhood was targeted is unclear but Zaquot was not known to support Hamas or politically involved in the conflict.

Although emergency services and neighbours rushed to his aid, they were unable to save him.

Zaquot played for Palestine in the ‘90s before they were officially accepted into FIFA. He played for the team that played a friendly game in 1994 against a team of French players which included UEFA president Michel Platini.

He was working as a sportscaster and television host in Gaza.

FIFA condemned violence in July

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said last month: “I am very much concerned with this situation in the region. We are heartbroken to learn that people from the football community have been killed”.

“FIFA and I personally deplore this situation and any form of violence.”